Haut Relievo

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (45 ratings)

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
2 oz Dark/black/blackstrap rum
12 oz Amaro (e.g. Averna)
14 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
2 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 8/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

This late-night sipper is a riff on a Red Hook. Dark in colour with a toasty flavour.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2022 by Jason E. Clapham at the St. Edward's MCR at Oxford, England. Named after a phrase used by Stephen Maturin to describe a refreshing ingredient in Patrick O'Brian's HMS Surprise. Jason originally based this recipe on Plantation Original Dark rum.

Nutrition:

One serving of Haut Relievo contains 206 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.7 standard drinks
  • 29.39% alc./vol. (29.39° proof)
  • 24.4 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Justin Aniello’s Avatar Justin Aniello
10th May at 13:50
I used blackstrap rum which was a bit overpowering for the other ingredients. You could tell the other two were there, but a regular dark rum would likely work even better. Gives off rum and cola vibes but with more depth.
Matt’s Avatar Matt
6th March at 05:31
I like this. The maraschino leads the flavor, working with the Averna, with a boozy background provided by the rum. I think trying different amaro would be interesting, and would perhaps reduce the maraschino to 1 t/5 ml from the current 1/2 T/7.5 ml, to see if that brings the amaro to the front of the flavor a bit more. I used Goslings - I think Plantation Original Dark would likely be better as well.
Adam Kormondy’s Avatar Adam Kormondy
17th December 2024 at 06:16
Very tasty with Gosling's and the right amount of maraschino. Used Ramazotti for the Amaro since it was on hand and surprisingly it's a little lost. Want to try again with some other subs (think Abano might be a good choice).
Yorey C’s Avatar Yorey C
8th February 2024 at 10:53
good with goslings, but myers seriously overpowers... speculate like 33% **less** myers, 20% more goslings would be my personal ideal?
Yorey C’s Avatar Yorey C
18th June 2024 at 20:27
still kinda dry with a lower proportion of myers
Calvin Grant’s Avatar Calvin Grant
29th August 2023 at 02:50
I found this to be quite tasty made with Myers's Single Barrel Select. Not a bad mixer.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
28th March 2023 at 04:23
As a huge fan of rum, loved this. Used Hamilton Pot Stilled Black Jamaican at 90+proof. Cocktail starts off with a hit of Jamaican rum funk followed by the spices of the Amaro and angostura. Ends with hints of pepper and cherries. Found the cocktail alive with a burst of flavours and hints of Caribbean mystic. Does benefit from a very long stir. Allow to breathe as the initial sharp flavours do mellow as it breathes.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
28th March 2023 at 04:26
Oddly, this is a cocktail which I think would be better shaken and stirred. It seems to benefit from getting more air and being very cold.
Herbert Brant’s Avatar Herbert Brant
22nd January 2023 at 20:37
As the commenter below says, this is an intense, dark and brooding cocktail, but I did enjoy it. The second time I made it, I used Peychaud's instead of Angostura, and it added nice, subtle zing to the mix.
Jeremy Harrold’s Avatar Jeremy Harrold
5th January 2023 at 01:32
Intense, dark and brooding flavours with the Maraschino coming and going. For my palate it didn’t work.