A walk on the wild side: Waterpocket Pennellen Amaro

Once again the fine folks at Waterpocket Distillery have come through with a fine new addition to cocktails in the beehive state, with their newest addition to their Toadstool line of Amaro: Pennellen. Those familiar with Amaro liqueur will find themselves right at home, and for those newly baptized to the wonderful world of the herbal and bitter, here's a crash course.

The word Amaro literally translates to bitter in Italian, and although Amaro is half bitter, it's also half sweet. For centuries, Amaro has been consumed after a meal as a digestif, though this only scratches the surface of its potential in the world of craft cocktails. Amaro is typically produced by macerating flowers, roots, citrus, spices, and barks in an alcohol based tincture, and bottled between 16 and 40% alcohol by volume. There are many types of Amaro, many of which are distinctly regional and whose recipes can be traced back to remedies made in monasteries, and later, pharmacies. It's a very wide category of spirits, but many bar-goers are not familiar with any other brand than the ubiquitous Fernet-Branca. In a rare stroke of luck however, Salt City's drinking population have access to some amazing Amaro handmade, right here in the valley.

Waterpocket's combination pot and column still is beautiful.

Now that we've covered a brief summary of Amaro, let's get down to business. Pennellen represents a modern interpretation of mid-continent "Imperial" style of bitters, and there is a lot going on in this bottle. It's made with a blend of different herbs and spices, the most prominent of which being Cinchona, Gentian, and Bergamot. Pennellen is a beautiful golden color, and bottled at the upper end of the Amaro scale at 40% abv. (80 proof). The nose is full of cinnamon, fresh cut cedar, orange and spice. It smells like one could imagine themselves sitting around a fireplace in a quiet cabin with a warm cocktail in hand. The palate is a very nice balance of bitter and sweet, with orange, bergamot and further spice. The finish is long with holiday spice, cinnamon, and pepper notes, and it clings to the tongue. The pleasant warm sensation that comes with being 80 proof is a nice way to end the drink. As a whole, Pennellen is bold, but still approachable, and more than a little refreshing. It is more than capable of standing alone as a difestif, and when chilled takes on an almost desert-like quality; but where Pennellen really shines is in a cocktail.

Summary:

Nose:

- Cinnamon
- Cedar
- Orange
- Spice

Palate:
- Orange
- Bergamot
- Spice

Finish:
- Cinnamon
- Spice
- Pepper
- Long finish

Availability:
Pennellen is available only at the distillery, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to take a tour and tasting. Waterpocket has many different offerings, and something for everyone.
2084 W 2200 S, West Valley City, UT 84119

Spirit Guides Cocktail: Fiore di Pompelmo

- 0.5oz Oleo Saccharum
- 0.5oz Waterpocket Distillery Pennellen
- 1.5oz Mezcal
- 1oz Cachaca
- 1-2 Dash(es) of saline solution