Drink of the Week: Marolo Milla Grappa & Chamomile Liqueur

I’m not sure how December is shaping up where you live, but in my neighborhood, winter’s chill is already firmly entrenched. Some may opt for a cup of herbal tea to fight the cold. Others may resort to the restorative powers of brandy. This winter, I’m splitting the difference between these two at cocktail hour, using a robust-yet-delicate Italian liqueur, Marolo Milla.

Built on a base of grappa distilled from the pomace of Nebbiolo grapes at the Marolo facility in Piedmont, Milla is infused with chamomile flowers for 11 months. The resulting liqueur features grappa’s brusque ruggedness. Its aroma evokes dry leaves and orchard fruit, supporting the comforting character of chamomile and honey.

Milla is ideal when sipped on its own as a complex-flavored digestif. But it also suggests an affinity for the cocktail shaker, perhaps in the company of gin, brandy, and fresh citrus. Consider this an opportunity to start a whole new line of cocktail experimentation this winter. $59.96, astorwines.com