Matchbook Distilling Underhand Amaro
Matchbook Distilling Underhand Amaro is a bold, bittersweet amaro from Matchbook Distilling Co. in Greenport, New York, built on Chinese Five Spice, Sichuan and Macqaw peppercorns, gentian, rhubarb root, Mekong cinnamon, orange and citron peel, and sweetened with Okinawan Murakami Syuten sugar. Bottled at 33% ABV in a 750mL bottle, it layers fiery warmth over deep amaro bitterness — a standout in our amaro & bitters collection.
- Style: Amaro
- ABV: 33%
- Size: 750mL
- Producer: Matchbook Distilling Co.
- Region: Greenport, New York
Into the Bottle
Underhand starts with Chinese Five Spice — star anise, fennel seed, cloves, cinnamon and peppercorns — a blend designed to balance sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. Matchbook layers it with the earthy bitterness of gentian and rhubarb root, the electrifying buzz of green and red Sichuan peppercorns, and rare Macqaw peppercorns from the highlands of Thailand, which add citrusy brightness and a subtle numbing tingle. Orange and citron peel brighten the mix, Mekong cinnamon brings vanilla undertones, and crushed Okinawan Murakami Syuten sugar — prized for its deep, molasses-like intensity — ties it together. It is one of the most original bottles in our liqueurs range.
Tasting Notes
Warm baking spice and star anise up front, bitter gentian and rhubarb root through the middle, a gentle Sichuan tingle, and a long, molasses-dark finish lifted by citrus peel and cinnamon.
How to Enjoy
Matchbook's own serve is a Spiced Boulevardier: 1 oz bourbon, 1 oz Underhand Amaro, 1 oz sweet vermouth and an optional dash of orange bitters, stirred. It also shines in a Hot Toddy riff, an Old Fashioned with an expressed orange peel, neat as a fireside sipper, or lengthened into spritzes and highballs. For more of Matchbook's Greenport experiments, see the Matchbook Distilling Eldest Daughter Vermouth.
FAQ
What does Underhand Amaro taste like? Chinese Five Spice warmth over classic amaro bitterness, with Sichuan pepper tingle, citrus peel and a molasses-like sweetness from Okinawan sugar.
How strong is it? 33% ABV (66 proof), 750mL.
Where is it made? Distilled and bottled by Matchbook Distilling Co. in Greenport, on New York's North Fork.
Matchbook Distilling Underhand Amaro is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.