Amaro by Category

Aperitivo – A lighter style of Amaro generally consumed before a meal and rarely drunk on its own, often mixed in a spritz or soda. Set aside by its typically orange or red colour.
Examples are; Aperol, Campari, Cappelletti Aperitivo

Vermouth/Vermut – Classified as a cousin to Amaro. Made with a wine base, slightly less bitter and like Amaro it was originally used for its medicinal purposes.
Examples are; Carpano Antica Formula, Cinzano Rosso

Light Amaro – Generally lower in alcohol and lighter in flavour. This style of Amaro is a perfect introduction for first timers. Examples are; Montenegro, Vecchio Amaro del Capo, Meletti

Medium Amaro – This is the standard Amaro where most sit between bitter and sweet and are generally higher in alcohol. Examples are; Averna, Lucano, Rucolino

Carciofo (Artichoke) – Amaro made from a base of artichoke. Examples are; Cynar

Alpine – Amaro made with Alpine herbs, generally from the northern Alps of Italy. Examples are; Braulio, Amaro Alpino, Argalà Amaro Alpino.

Rabarbaro (Rhubarb) – Amaro made from a base of Chinese rhubarb, which imparts a smoky flavour. Examples are; Capelletti Sfumato, Zucca.

Fernet – The most bitter form of Amaro, they tend to be bracingly bitter, drier and generally higher in alcohol. Examples are; Fernet Branca, Fernet delle due Sicilie.

Genepy (Wormwood) – Amaro made from a base of Artemisia aka Wormwood, the same botanical used to make Absinthe but nowhere near as lethal. Examples are; Amaro Alta Verde, Alpe Genepy Herbetet

China – A style of Amaro using chincona bark as its base, famous to the region of Piedmont, Italy. Examples are; Clementi China Antica Elixir

Miscellaneous Amaro – Amaro of great quality that make unusual styles by either ingredient or provenance. Examples are; Sweetdram Whisky Amaro, Mr Black Coffee Amaro

Riserva Amaro – Special one-off bottles and rare Riserva releases unavailable to the Australian market. Examples are; Averna Riserva di Don Salvatore, Amaro Lucano Anniversario

Vintage Amaro – The obsession of tracking down ultra-rare bottlings of vintage Amaro, in particular vintages from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. Many of these rare bottlings are no longer in production.