Mint is the herb Italians reach for when an amaro needs cooling rather than sweetening. Branca Menta is the obvious example: the same fernet base, softened with peppermint until it becomes something you can drink over ice on a hot afternoon.
In fernet generally, mint is part of the original formula rather than an addition — it sits under the wormwood and myrrh and is the reason a fernet finish feels cold in the mouth.
Fresh mint behaves differently to distilled peppermint. Muddled or slapped, it gives green, grassy aroma; distilled, it gives sharp menthol. Julep-style amaro drinks want the first, digestivo shots want the second.
What mint tastes like
Cool menthol over green, grassy aroma.
Behind the bar
- ✦Slap mint rather than muddling it for garnish — bruising releases chlorophyll bitterness.
- ✦Mint plus artichoke amaro plus rum is a proven trio; see the Cynar Julep.
- ✦Crushed ice keeps mint drinks cold enough that the menthol stays crisp.
Amari made with mint
Bottles from the Encyclopedia of Amaro that list it among their botanicals.
- Amaro AbanoVeneto, Northern Italy · 35% ABV
- Agala Altitud 1175Canary Islands, Spain · Around 20% ABV
- AlpestrePiedmont, Northern Italy · 43% ABV
- Amaro Alpino BordigaPiedmont, Northern Italy · 35% ABV
- Antica Torino Amaro della SacraPiedmont · 30%
- Amaro ArgalàPiedmont, Western Alps · Around 27% ABV
- Branca MentaLombardy, Northern Italy · 28% ABV
- BraulioLombardy, Italian Alps · 21% ABV
- Amaro CamaldoliTuscany · 21%
- CenterbaAbruzzo, Central Italy · 70% ABV (a milder 45% Centerba Dolce also exists)
- Contratto FernetPiedmont, Northern Italy · 40% ABV
- CynarVeneto, Northern Italy · 16.5% ABV (Cynar 70 is 35%)
Mint cocktails to make tonight
Recipes from the Cocktail Lab that use mint.
- The Hard Start½ oz Fernet-Branca · ½ oz Branca Menta
- Bitter Mai Tai1½ oz Campari · ¾ oz Jamaican Rum · ¾ oz Lime · ½ oz Orgeat · ¼ oz Orange Curaçao
- Cynar Julep2 oz Cynar · ½ oz Rye · ¼ oz Simple Syrup · 8 Mint Leaves
- Art of Choke1 oz Cynar · 1 oz White Rum · ½ oz Green Chartreuse · ½ oz Lime · ¼ oz Simple
- Amaro Mule2 oz Amaro Averna · ¾ oz Lime · 4 oz Ginger Beer
- Amaro Old Cuban1½ oz Aged Rum · ¾ oz Lime · 1 oz Simple · 2 oz Prosecco · ¼ oz Amaro
- Amaro Cobbler1½ oz Amaro Montenegro · 1½ oz Amontillado Sherry · ½ oz Orange · ¼ oz Simple
- Brancolada1½ oz Fernet-Branca · 2 oz Pineapple · ¾ oz Coconut Cream · ½ oz Lemon
- Amaro Smash1½ oz Amaro Montenegro · ¾ oz Bourbon · ¾ oz Lemon · Mint
- Lucano Cobbler1½ oz Amaro Lucano · 3⅓ oz Red wine · ¾ oz Tonic · ½ oz Sugar syrup
Mint: frequently asked questions
Which amaro tastes like mint?
Branca Menta is the classic mint-forward bottling, and most fernets carry a cooling peppermint note beneath their bitterness.