Defo a surprising combo. Herbal/plant notes are a triumph. Sipping it right now and feeling transported to the glorious bars of Italy. Looking forward to experimenting with other gins/amaros (amari???)
The mint and spearmint notes of the Lucano are very evident, balanced by the fruit, sweetness and bitter Cherry of the ingredients. Tangy and rich, while also refreshing. Perfectly balanced bitter sweet and herbal.
The mint notes were one of the first things I noticed on my first sip, but I am also impressed at how much bitterness just 1/4 oz of the Lucano imparts. Good balance overall. I use Cheritelli maraschino, which has a bit more maraschino flavor than Luxardo liqueur and plays well with a Luxardo cherry garnish. By way of contrast, Phil Ward (in the Death & Co. cocktail book) says "no garnish," but the Luxardo cherry works here, esp. with Cheritelli.