FANCIFUL AND FLORAL

The Americano’s Fiore Di Vitae gifts guests with a bouquet of blooming lavender

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTO BY DEBBY WOLVOS

With its seasonal cocktail menu, The Americano set out to create a lineup of libations that do far more than catch the eye and taste good.

“Each of our offerings is designed to evoke a memory or harken back to some sort of nostalgia,” says Jacqueline Verge, general manager of The Americano. “For example, one of our cocktails looks modern yet tastes like an orange creamsicle”

Among the most striking summer specialties is the Fiore Di Vitae ($17).

“Fiore Di Vitae, an Italian phrase translating to ‘flower of life’ in English, will transport guests visually and aromatically to vibrant fields of lavender that bloom this time of year,” Verge says.

The Americano bar lead Holly Achs got the idea to create a lavender-based recipe after experimenting with liqueur made from the flower and Ron Colón Salvadoreño Coffee Infused Rum.

“Lavender and coffee have been an increasingly trendy pairing for years, with the floral, calming properties of the flower perfectly balancing the bolder notes in the coffee while complementing its nutty earthiness,” Verge says.

To make Fiore Di Vitae, the coffee rum and lavender liqueur are combined in a shaker with pomegranate liqueur, white rum, Maleza Flores Bitters, and primitivo syrup, which is made by reducing the Italian zinfandel with sugar.

“The pomegranate gives it some zest and white rum creates a rounded finish, while the bitters amp up the lavender, and the primitivo provides a bright sweetness.”

After shaking, the contents are strained into a tall rocks glass that has been texturized with circles of sugar. It is garnished with both dehydrated lavender sprigs and dehydrated lotus root wheels.

The Americano, 17797 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale; 480.573.0001; www. theamericanorestaurant.com.