Umami Mia!
A mushroom liqueur? Calabro has come up with a fall favorite.
Autumn is all about foliage, chestnuts and Porcini mushrooms. How about a cocktail featuring this fungus?
In Calabria's Sila region, known for its clean air and vast mountainous plateau, a rare and remarkable liqueur is produced: Porcino Calabro. Made from the prized Porcino Testanera mushrooms, this unique elixir is crafted through a meticulous process of macerating porcini mushrooms harvested in spring and autumn from Sila’s slopes. The mushrooms are collected at their peak ripeness, when their aroma is most intense. Harvesting requires expert foragers who understand the region’s complex soil, climate, and vegetation, as mushroom ripening varies by season.
Porcino Calabro liqueur is made exclusively from Sila porcini mushrooms, with no artificial flavorings or colorings, resulting in a pure, earthy taste. It’s an excellent aperitif and a standout ingredient in whiskey-based cocktails like the Manhattan or Old Fashioned. In the kitchen, it elevates dishes like braised meats, scallops, and risottos, enhancing the rich, umami notes of mushrooms. It’s origin is of special note. Sila is home to the towering 350-year-old larch pines known as the Giants of Sila, showcasing both nature’s beauty and this one-of-a-kind culinary treasure growing wild on the forest floor.
A few questions for the maker
Your full name? Roberto Maiorano
How many years has the company been in existence? The liqueur company for 10 years, the agricultural company since 1800
Where did the idea of creating a porcini mushroom liqueur come from? My great-grandmother already made it
How many products are in your line? We have 33 products
How do you like to drink porcini liqueur? I love it during meals or in a cocktail with whiskey
WARD 18 COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS
Copperhead Gin Gibson Edition
De Borgen Old Style Genever
Calabro Porcini Liqueur
Adnam's Orange & Ale Jam
20 y.o. sherry vinegar
Freshly squeezed tangerine juice
Tasting notes
Appearance: Clear with bright golden hues
Nose: Distinct porcini mushroom aroma
Taste: sweet with earthy notes
Serving suggestions: with whisky based cocktails, also pairs well with mezcal, or in cooking, such as braised meats or in a porcini risotto
Producer Calabro Beverage
Distributor Tek Bar - Ferro Distribution
Country Italy
Alcohol content 30%
Bottle size 50 cl
Links / Thanks :
Calabro Beverage sent me a sample
Federico Patalossi introduced me to the product
Ai Do Leoni Bar Venice tried the product forthe first time
Al Querto Bar Bassano del Grappa made me a cocktail
Tek Bar distributor
Ferro Beverage distributor