Do you need a new addition to the liquor cabinet? Of course, you do- doesn’t everyone? Liquore Strega is the next must have.
So, let’s get some of the fun stuff out of the way. Everything is fun…. what am I talking … err writing about….?
“Strega” means witch in Italian, so if you look it up in a drink recipe, the drink name usually has something related to witches and darkness. Drinks like the ‘Witches’ Flight‘ or ‘Enchanted Field’ conjuror up images of witches and the Dark Force. If you haven’t noticed, my choice of beverages includes a variation of bourbon/rye which is my favorite. But enough talk of the darkness which I kind of like, let us talk about Strega.
Liquore Strega is an Italian herbal liqueur, produced since 1860 by the S. A. Distilleria Liquore Strega in Benevento, Italy. Benevento, Italy itself, apparently has a little ancient witchcraft legacy. Like a witches complex nature, Liquore Strega is a mix of 70 herbs and spices; the distinctive yellow color comes from the presence of saffron (1 of 70 identified). Strega is bottled at 80 proof, which has an alcohol content comparable to most hard liquors. As a side note, if you try these cocktails, a lower proof (80) bourbon/rye lets Strega shine, which is its current partner in my cocktails above.
So, I do like bottle artwork, which has rubbed off on me, but not as much as my girlfriend who often makes beer selections via can artwork. I digress. Getting back to the witches and the Strega bottle…apparently witches were said to convene in Benevento to perform rituals and honor Il Noce, the sacred walnut tree; perhaps ingredient 2 of 70? If you look at the lower left part of the logo, you can see witches dancing around the walnut tree and the top left has a more classic witch and broom in the moon light. According to legend, Giuseppe Alberti either saved a witch from falling out of a tree in the woods or from under a fallen branch… the story is a little hazy. However, the most important part is that she gave him the recipe for an elixir, which the Alberti family began selling in 1860. Coincidence? Either way it makes a good story and beverage to drink on the rocks or to share in a cocktail concoction. Everyone gives witches a bad rap, but this one hooks them up and gave us this fantastic liquor.
ABV: 40%/80 Proof
Producer: Italy
Website: https://www.strega.it/
