Amaro is currently experiencing a resurgence. It's even been dubbed the drink of 2024, with Australian producers releasing modern expressions of the Italian liqueur, which quite literally translates to 'bitter'.
To celebrate, Navi – a two-hatted fine dining experience in Melbourne's Yarraville – has launched its amaro tasting flight experience for the month of March.
Next door to Navi is Navi Lounge, an intimate standalone bar. The tasting flight showcases five amari (the plural for amaro), which have been hand-selected by Navi's bar manager, Miriam Wahlhütter.
On show is amaro from the motherland, specifically Bologna, along with regions closer to home like Beechworth in north-east Victoria.
Guests can experience a flight of three amari for $35 or a flight of five amari for $50. Tastings are available at Navi Lounge from 5.30–11.30pm Wednesday to Friday and from 2–11.30pm on Saturdays.
Navi amaro tasting flight menu
Saison Vin Amaro Artichoke
Made with a base of moscato from Victoria's north-east, this herbaceous number has been layered with loads of lobe artichoke, wild lavender and thistles, and Meyer lemon. There's plenty of that artichoke character sitting up front and centre, with high notes of citrus florals, and chamomile on the bitter and beautifully balanced palate.
Autonomy Amaro
A showcase of native Australian botanicals at their finest, this native Australian amaro is a complex aperitif that evokes the smell of the bush after the rain. The flavour is characterised by a forward sweetness followed by a deep, earthy bitterness with bursts of citrus and native botanicals including cinnamon myrtle, lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepperberry and lemon-scented gum.
Amaro Montenegro
Amaro Montenegro is a traditional amaro distilled in Bologna, Italy. It is made from a secret blend of 40 botanicals including vanilla, orange peels and eucalyptus, encapsulating the flavours of the Mediterranean. Made in a process that is unchanged since 1885, it is a staple in classic Italian amari.
Beechworth Bitters B8 Amaro
The most unusual amaro of the Beechworth Bitters range. Based on tomato, beetroot, carrot, celery, herbs, artichoke and other vegetables, this amaro is intensely savoury, even more so due to the addition of koji and kombu. Spices and herbs round out the package.
Beechworth Bitters A Walk in the Black Forest Amaro
A woody, spicy amaro with bright notes of cherry and cherry pit and base notes of cocoa, coffee and vanilla. On the more bitter and heavier end of the spectrum, there is still plenty of sweetness coming from caramel, adding another layer of complexity.Bookings can be made via restaurantnavi.com.au/lounge (walk-ins are also welcome). Navi Lounge is located at 83B Gamon Street, Yarraville.
