Around the World in 60 Cocktails: La Hora

The French have l’apero apres le travail, the Italians swear by un aperitivo post-lavoro, even the Brits have happy hour after work. It seems that the culture of having a drink to wind down after the day is done is one of life’s simple pleasures.

While Europe celebrates its apero-culture with gusto, what many people do not realize is that Argentina has an aperitivo tradition similar to Italy, France and Spain. Come 6 p.m. and Argentinians everywhere will be closing their computers and opening a bottle of something cold in anticipation of la hora del vermut – vermouth hour.

The tradition began around the turn of the century when Argentinian immigrants – many of whom were of Italian or Spanish descent – would order a drink in the bars before going home. Popular drinks were included Amargo Obrero, a versatile light brown bitter known as “the aperitif of the Argentine people” as well as Italian-imports like Fernet, Campari and, of course, sweet vermouth.

Since the turn of the 20th century, the aperitivo has cemented itself into Argentinian culture, with bartenders in cities such as Buenos Aires referring to the recipes of their forefathers and mixing them with more modern ingredients to give them a contemporary twist. Bares notables (historic cafés) are also being restored all over the country, further resurrecting the heritage of the la hora de vermut.

Inspired by the Negroni, this homage to the culture uses a bitter-sweet amaro blend and contains an equal mix of Aperol, Amaro Averna, Amaro Nonino and Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur. The idea of our Hora is to revitalize a traditional aperitivo, while remembering the roots. Salud!