Episode 122: Old Fashioned meets Old World Nocino Old Fashioned

Mar 16

Ep. 122: Old Fashioned meets Old World: Nocino Old Fashioned

Welcome to Season 7 episode 122 of The Art of Drinking with Join Jules and Your Favorite Uncle

In this episode of The Art of Drinking, Uncle Brad and Jules dive into the fascinating world of nocino, the dark, aromatic Italian walnut liqueur often considered part of the amaro family. Made from green walnuts and steeped with warming spices, nocino brings rich, nutty depth to classic cocktails and modern riffs alike.

Uncle Brad starts things off with a Walnut Banana Bread Old Fashioned, a cozy cocktail that perfectly demonstrates the golden rule of cocktail structure—spirit, sweet, bitters, and water. It’s a dessert-inspired take on the classic Old Fashioned that showcases how nocino can add complexity and warmth.

Jules follows with her Bitter Nocino, a bold Negroni-inspired cocktail that swaps in nocino for a nutty, bittersweet twist. This simple but elegant riff will make you rethink your Negroni ratios—and it’s the perfect excuse to break out your clear ice.

Whether you’re curious about what nocino is, looking for nocino cocktail recipes, or exploring new ways to use Italian walnut liqueur in drinks, this episode is packed with inspiration for your home bar.

In this episode:

What nocino is and why it’s often classified as an amaro
How to use walnut liqueur in cocktails
A Walnut Banana Bread Old Fashioned recipe
A Bitter Nocino Negroni riff
Tips for elevating your cocktails with clear ice

Perfect for fans of amaro cocktails, Negroni variations, Old Fashioned riffs, and Italian liqueurs.

Thinking about purchasing a Klaris ice machine? Go to craftKLARIS.com and use the code AOD10 for 10% OFF your purchase. Trust us, you won’t regret it ;-)

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Click here for the recipes this episode!

What Is Nocino?

Nocino is a dark, bittersweet Italian walnut liqueur made from unripe green walnuts, alcohol, sugar, and warm spices. It’s typically bottled at 30–40% ABV and has flavors of baking spice, citrus peel, coffee, and resinous nuttiness, somewhere between amaro, spiced rum, and black tea.

It’s not just a liqueur. It’s a ritual.

Pagan Roots & St. John’s Night

Nocino’s origins trace back to ancient herbal traditions in Northern Italy, especially in the region of Emilia-Romagna.

Historically, walnuts were believed to have magical and medicinal properties. In pre-Christian Europe, walnut trees were associated with fertility, protection, and mysticism. According to legend, witches gathered beneath walnut trees to perform rituals, particularly around the summer solstice.

When Christianity spread, the tradition became tied to St. John the Baptist’s feast day, June 24th.

The Ritual

Traditionally:

Green walnuts are harvested on the night of June 23rd (La Notte di San Giovanni)
They must be picked by hand (some say barefoot, before dawn)
The walnuts are cut and steeped in alcohol with spices
The mixture rests in the sun for 40 days
Then strained, sweetened, and aged until winter

By Christmas, the nocino is ready to drink.

So it literally carries summer sunshine into the darkest part of the year.

This weeks tip section will be dedicated to answering YOUR questions