Amaro Montenegro

The amaro most people fall for first. Stanislao Cobianchi created it in Bologna in 1885 and later named it for Princess Elena of Montenegro. Its 40 botanicals come across as orange, floral and gently sweet, with only a light bitterness at 23% alcohol. Pour it over one big ice cube with an orange peel and it drinks almost like a finished cocktail. With soda it makes a low-alcohol highball, and in equal parts with mezcal it becomes a smoky little shot to share. If a friend says they do not like amaro, hand them this one.