Vertigo Worth Having with Averna

By Marla Milling Published April 7, 2014

Looking for a new summer drink? Take your guests to new heights when you mix up a “Vertigo” at your next cocktail party.

The main ingredient is Averna, which is one of the most celebrated Amaros in the world. Amaro is the Italian word for “bitter.” As a liquer, it’s typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif (yes, think Jagermeister).

Recommended Videos

Produced in Sicily, Averna has been a favorite since its namesake Salvatore Averna invented the recipe in 1868. It’s distilled from a secret blend of flowers, herbs, dried fruits, spices and licorice and is 29% alc/volume. Take a sip and discover why it’s known as the Godfather of Amaro.

Ted Carducci, an award-winning mixologist and co-founder of Tippling Bros. in New York, dreamed up The Vertigo cocktail last year using Averna as the star ingredient. Try it for yourself with the recipe below, or simply serve Averna on the rocks, and enjoy. Just don’t spill it on that seersucker.

The Vertigo

2 oz. Averna

½ oz fresh lemon juice

Ginger beer

Ice

DIRECTIONS: In a highball glass, add Averna and lemon juice over ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

You know the rest.

Averna retails for $26.99 a bottle.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marla Hardee Milling is a full-time freelance writer living in a place often called the Paris of the South, Sante Fe of the…

Food & Drink

Show your Wicked side with these mezcal cocktails for Oscars night

Whether you're Team Galinda or Team Elphaba

Mezcal Union-4

If you're getting ready for the biggest movie awards night of the year tomorrow, we've already given you some Oscars-themed cocktails to try. But for those of you who are cheering on Wicked in particular, we've got some fun color coordinated drinks to celebrate the surprising musical smash of the year.

These drinks from Mezcal Unión come in the signature green or pink shades of Elphaba and Galinda, making use of matcha powder and Peychaud Bitters to give a colorful twist to these tasty concoctions. There's a twist on a traditional Margarita using mezcal in place of tequila, and a take on the Clover Club which uses mezcal rather than gin. Cheers to Wicked's 10 Oscar nominations!
The Bad Witch

Food & Drink

A rich and moody cocktail to celebrate Conclave’s Oscars nominations

If you're cheering on Ralph Fiennes for Best Actor, raise a toast

Ralph Fiennes in Conclave.

It's Oscars weekend, which is a great excuse for catching up on some widely acclaimed movies, having some friends round, and enjoying the glitz and glamor of this year's event. We've shared Oscars themed cocktails and some Wicked cocktails too, but if you're stanning hard for Ralph Fiennes and his best actor nomination, then we have a drink just for you.

Fiennes impressed everyone, it seems, with his turn in Papal drama Conclave, and he's up for an award along with his co-star Isabella Rossellini, nominated for best supporting actress, as well as the film scoring nominations for costume, editing, music, production, and of course the all-important Best Picture.

Food & Drink

This frozen espresso martini recipe proves everything tastes better frozen

An elevated form of your favorite coffee cocktail

frozen espresso martini

Frozen drinks are usually associated with summer, and I understand why. There's nothing like sipping on a pina colada or even a wine frosé poolside while you soak up the sun. But just like I still drink hot coffee in the summer or iced coffee in the winter, there's still a place for frozen cocktails in your life year-round. I recently tried a frozen espresso martini, proving that everything tastes better. Perfect for a post-dinner snack or a refreshing game night drink to serve amongst friends, there's never a bad time a frozen espresso martini. This recipe is worth drinking in any weather, whether hot or cold.
How to make a frozen espresso martini

The espresso martini is one of those cocktails with dozens of variations. Some recipes are creamier, whereas others have a heavier espresso taste. Some variations use other types of liquor instead of vodka or recipes with specialty flavors, such as pumpkin spice espresso martini.