Italy, Amaro, & The Art of Spirits | Chris Militello | Pouring Stories Ep. 4

🎙️ Pouring Stories Podcast – Episode 4
Join us as we chat with Spirits Professional and “Amaro Guy” Chris Militello. Chris shares captivating stories from his travels through Italy, exploring the stark contrasts between Italian and American culture, experiencing the incredible hospitality of renowned winemaker Arianna Occhipinti, and so much more.

In this episode, we dive into
00:00 Chris Militello | Pouring Stories Ep. 4
00:50 Industrial vs. Artisanal Amaro
03:50 Reverse cocktails
05:42 Jefferson Amaro Importante
07:15 Wild stories about Centerba
09:25 Common mistakes when tasting spirits
11:35 Italian vs. Italian-American identity
13:35 Exploring Italy's rich regional diversity
16:45 Behind the scenes of Arianna Occhipinti’s harvest
19:10 Visiting Abruzzo pre-harvest
20:58 Meletti and its magic
24:00 Thoughts on Grappa
27:00 Cierto Tequila
28:47 Nardini, Bassano, and Branca stories
30:10 Educating others about spirits in the workplace
31:52 What it truly takes to run a beverage program
34:00 Chris’ journey from MONZU to today
38:15 The unique flavor of Gagliardo Fernet Radicale
40:00 Everything Fernet Branca (and more Fernet fun!)
41:45 A sidebar on Angostura bitters
43:35 How palates evolve over time
47:40 Chris crafts a cocktail from Chilled Magazine
52:00 Exploring Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah
52:50 Repping brands in Las Vegas
54:07 Mise en place mishaps (ICE FAIL)
55:40 Opening venues and Friends & Family days
58:20 Bramare Inspired Italian
60:00 Closing time reflections

If you’re a fan of spirits, Italian culture, or just love a good story, this episode is packed with insights and laughter. Don’t miss it!