Ahhhh amaro. Is there a better way to finish off a meal than with a little herbal digestif? If you are reading this one, at least one of two things is true: 1. You like coffee, and/or 2. You may have a large holiday meal in your future. If either of these are correct, then have I ever got good news for you. Madcap Coffee have teamed up with fellow Grand Rapidians Long Road Distillers to create Amaro Pazzo, a coffee-based Italian-inspired Michigan-born liqueur.
It’s been a busy month for Madcap in the way of news. Hot on the heels of the big announcement that the coffee company will be opening their first Detroit cafe inside the Shinola Hotel (though technically they did first mention that they were moving somewhere in Detroit back in October), now they dropping some booze news. According to the press release, Long Road and Madcap devoted a chunk of the yearlong process in bringing Amaro Pazzo to tasting coffees in order to find the best fit. Ultimately, they opted for the wash processed Reko from the eponymous washing station in the Kochere region of Ethiopia. With notes of citrus, lemongrass, and ginger, the Reko is said to help create a balance of sweetness and bitterness in the liqueur.
“Few put as much time and dedication into their craft as Madcap,” said Jon O’Connor, co-owner and co-founder of Long Road Distillers. “Amaro Pazzo is an ode to our shared commitment to take the time to do things right, and to craft the exceptional. We can’t wait to introduce people to what we’ve been able to create together.”
Clocking in at a very drinkable 57 proof, Amaro Pazzo adds to the flavors in the Reko with myrrh, turkey rhubarb, two types of orange, wormwood, “and a blend of other ingredients.”
We’re pretty big fans of amaro here at Sprudge, be it mixed with hot coffee, cold brew, or with coffee as an ingredient during distillation. Unfortunately for us, Amarzo Pazzo is only in distribution inside Michigan at the current moment, though the companies are looking to cast a wider net in early 2019. I guess this bottle of Caffé Amaro from J. Rieger & Co. and Thou Mayest will just have to keep me warm until Amarzo Pazzo moseys its way on down to Texas.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
Top image via Madcap
