Fresh, lightly sweet flavor of Dimmi Liquore di Milano [classic article]

The modern culinary and cocktail world is notable for a constant search for new flavors. That’s part of what’s driving the mixology craze: aside from bringing back some of the first cocktails, there’s the desire for something different. You can make delightful drinks — of course! — with Dimmi Liquore di Milano, but it’s completely satisfying neat. I was happy to be hosted to experience it!

In the crazy weather most of the country has been experiencing, you’ll find it quite handy to be able to entertain (even yourself) without having a lot of ingredients on hand. Try this clear liquor with crushed ice and plain soda water, for a refreshing quaff. If you live in an apartment or condo complex, bring a bottle to share with neighbors as a fun and tasty way to pass the time during a storm.

I noticed a distinct grapefruit zest nose, with the flavor being a slightly sweet, smooth, red grapefruit/thyme/pear flavor. It doesn’t burn on swallowing.

I looked up clear (brandy-like) spirits on an app I have, Cheese Cupid. They suggest it as a match with buttery cheeses, like Butterkäse, Cheddar, Gouda and Parmesan. Go for the mild — not overly aged or smoked — versions. I happened to have something called “Grandma’s Cheddar” (mild), as well as some candied grapefruit and orange peels I hand-made after getting a holiday fruit shipment (waste not, want not!). Absolute perfection as a snack plate!

Here’s what they say about it:

Dimmi Liquore di Milano is an ultra suave, 70° Milanese liqueur, distilled from soft winter wheat grain and blended with a small amount of Grappa di Barolo. The spirits are infused with a century old family recipe of botanical ingredients including classic vermouth bitter herbs updated with apricot and peach flower blossoms, adding a delightful aromatic component.

Dimmi has a lightweight, velvety textured body and a complex bouquet of zesty orange, anise, sage, baking spice, and herbaceous aromas. It fills the mouth with savory and semisweet flavors including caramelized oranges, fresh red berries, dry herbs and finishes long with prominent spice and citrus notes.

Postprohibition.com describes it like this:

Dimmi gets its base from northern Italian organic wheat distillation. They infuse the base with a rustic recipe from 1932 including assenzio gentile, an Italian absinthe.

This infusion also includes nuances of:

liquorice
vanilla
rhubarb
ginseng
bitter orange (orange peels)

Dimmi also includes a second, more modern floral infusion. This infusion adds an essence of peach and apricot flower blossoms and young Nebbiolo grappa. The grappa is what marries the old infusion with the new infusion. This is where classic meets modern.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, they finish the liqueur off with a tiny bit of organic beet sugar. The beet sugar applies a beautiful weight and viscosity to the palette and adds to the long finish.

Sells for around $35 a bottle.