The Block Distilling Co. Announces Release of Amaro and Apéritif

DENVER, CO — The Block Distilling Co., renowned for its innovative and carefully crafted spirits, is thrilled to announce the release of its latest creation: Amaro. This exciting addition joins The Block’s distinctive portfolio, complementing the recent launch of its signature Apéritif and solidifying its position as a go-to brand for both professional bartenders and home mixologists.

The Block’s Amaro is a labor of love developed and perfected over many years. This bold, herbaceous digestif is crafted using a complex blend of botanicals, including sarsaparilla, birch, anise, and spearmint, providing a nuanced profile and extended experience. The Block also leaned into an ingredient discovered during the development of its Coffee Liqueur: dehydrated sugar. Unfiltered and created simply by drying the sugar cane plant, dehydrated sugar brings sweetness and a deeper earthy complexity than the usual sugars and balances the proof (35%) of the Amaro. The Amaro was also finished in The Block’s used whiskey barrels, adding an additional layer of flavor and allowing the botanicals to mingle. The final product is then naturally colored and filtered for the final presentation in the bottle. 

“We’ve put a lot of thought and heart into this Amaro, learning from and experimenting with the flavor changes that occur at each stage of the process to create balance and nuance,” said co-founder Kraig Weaver. “These bitter and herbal liqueurs became a favorite dram of ours and led to us wanting to develop our own version. The unique challenge of balancing, sweetening, and finishing them only added to our desire of creation.”

The Amaro's release follows closely on the heels of another spirit that took years of development, The Block’s house Apéritif, which has already gained attention for its bright and multifaceted citrus, floral, spice, sweet, and bitter profile along with its ability to elevate cocktail favorites like the spritz and negroni.

Lead Bartender and Creative Director, Mel Ostrow, adds that she enjoys the Amaro on a rock, or combined 50/50 with the Apéritif for a Winnebago, The Block’s take on the classic Ferrari cocktail which is a blend of the well-known apéritif Campari and digestif Fernet. “Since we focus so strongly on using house-made ingredients, our Amaro expands our horizons in a big way, particularly in classic cocktails,” said Ostrow. “We’re paying homage to the role of these bitter liqueurs in the industry by creating our own versions.”

Both the Apéritif and Amaro began as releases within The Block’s exclusive 225 Club. The annual membership program offers members, among other benefits, a preview of experimental spirit releases. Some of those releases are only ever available to members, but in the case of Apéritif and Amaro, the two were so well-received that they’ve now been elevated to full taproom and distribution releases. These complex spirits, and the meticulous processes required to produce them, are representative of The Block’s dedication to producing unique, and elevated spirits and reflect the distillery’s commitment to continual experimentation and never settling for what’s already available in the market. 

The Block’s Amaro and Apéritif are now available at The Block Distilling Co. tasting room in Denver for $35 and $34 for a 750ml bottle.