Distiller Notes
The word chaparral defines dry vegetation consisting of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes; as any Californian knows, this perfectly describes a large portion of the state’s iconic, rolling landscape.
Brucato Chaparral evokes this terroir with an amaro rooted in the traditional, herbal alpine liqueurs of Italy and France. A base of California-sourced neutral grape spirit is enlivened with featured botanicals of yerba santa, anise, mint, cardamom, California bay leaf, tarragon, and clove. A total of 20 ingredients are incorporated with the base distillate in a stepped maceration process, and the resulting spirit rests for at least two months in stainless steel before it is sweetened with cane sugar.
Designed to intuitively replace spirits such as Chartreuse, Becherovka, or Strega in classic applications, Chaparral yet imparts a distinct character. A nose of green tea, bay leaf, and mint introduces a warm and bright palate of yellow herbs, cinnamon, and anise. Cardamom blooms late, leading into big notes of mint on the finish.
Non-chill filtered and with a hue supplied only by its botanicals, enjoy this 46% ABV-spirit in mixed drinks or as an after-dinner treat.
First prepared by 13th century Italian monks as herbal medicines and elixirs, Liqueurs are distilled spirits that have been combined with flavoring agents. A range of herbs, spices, nuts, fruits and flowers can be used, and a sweetener such as sugar or corn syrup is often added. While typically rather sweet, some examples are herbaceous or tart and pair exceptionally well with desserts or act as a delightful addition to cocktails.