Amaro Averna Italian Bitter Liqueur, 70 cl

Product Information

Taste profile: A balanced, consistent flavor with floral notes and a whisper of citrus. Some of the herbs are artemisia absinthium, artemisia pontica, clary sage, musk yarrow, holy thistle, bitter orange, gentian, angelica, sambucus elderberry, ruta, aloe, and cinnamon essential oil. ( Source.) Bittersweet like most Amari, Amaro Averna also has a distinct spicy taste with dominant notes of cinnamon, cola, chocolate, and bitter orange. The secret recipe of Averna includes 60 ingredients, of which only a handful is known. The liqueur belongs to the category of medium Amari, meaning that it has a balanced flavor profile with moderate bitterness and an average ABV (29%).

Salvatore Averna developed the recipe and released the Amaro Averna in 1868. However, he came across the recipe by accident. Averna was the first licensed spirits in Sicily and has since grown to become Italy’s best-selling Amaro. Taste profile: “Scent of orange zest, bitter orange marmalade, thyme and menthol, with exotic notes like mango. Nice mix of sweet and bitter on the palate, perceptible pepper and liquorice; cocoa aftertaste.” – Falstaff Magazine, November 2016 ( Source.) For more recommendations, look at our list of Amaro Averna substitutes. Depending on the intended use, different Amaro liqueurs workwell. The Best Ways to Drink Averna Amaro

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If you’re a little sensitive to bitterness, Averna is a nice transitional element that adds texture and most definitely an aromatic edge. Although the exact ingredients are not publically known, it is believed that the herbs, roots and citrus rinds are allowed to soak in the base liquor before caramel is added. It was created in the Sicilian village of Caltanisetta in 1868 and was believed to have been the conceived for Salvatore Averna by the herbalist monks of an Spirito Abbey in Caltanissettis. In 1859, as a token of gratitude, the monks gave Salvatore the recipe for the infusion. In 1868 he began producing Averna for guests at his home. While amaro can certainly pair well with certain foods (cheese, for example), these herbal liqueurs are generally best enjoyed after a meal.

Averna liqueur is an amaro that is typically served in Italy at the end of a meal as a digestivo (digestif). Italians serve amariafter dining in the hope that the sweet yet bitter taste will stimulate the body to accelerate digestion (hence digestivo). Taste profile: “The nose is reminiscent of a herb garden in full bloom. The flavors are slightly bitter and quite herbal with a touch of sweetness.” ( Source.) Salvatore was born in Caltanissetta in 1802 and, after his teenage years, became an active and respected member of the community. He also was a benefactor of the local Abbey of the Holy Spirit. Eventually, a member of the Abbey gifted the secret recipeof their herbal elixir to Salvatore as a sign of gratitude.All these awards led Francesco to redesign the label, incorporating all its certificates and prizes. After the untimely death of Francesco, his wife Anna Maria took over the company.

The obvious special ingredient is the amaro. Let’s chat about it a bit, shall we? More about Amaro and Averna Broadly speaking, Italian bitters fall into two categories – those served as a pre-dinner drink ( aperitivo) and those to drink afterwards as a digestivo. Here are a few popular ones to try:

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Generally speaking, no. Amaro translates to bitter in Italian, and while some amari can certainly boast sweet notes, the overarching profiles of these herbal liqueurs tend to err more on the bitter side of things. Considered by some to be a bit of a gateway Amaro due to its sweetness, Averna has an intensity of flavour that will delight. It was Francesco Averna, son of Salvatore, who took the initiative to promote the bitter, participating in various exhibitions in Italy and abroad. During a private visit of King Umberto I in 1895, Francesco received a gold pin with the House of Savoy insignia in recognition of the Sicilian bitter, which by now was well known. In 1912 Vittorio Emanuele III granted the Averna Company the right to affix the royal crest on the label of their liquor with the words "Patent of the Royal House": the Averna Company became supplier to the royal household. All these awards led Francesco to redesign the label, incorporating all its certificates and prizes. After the untimely death of Francesco, his wife Anna Maria took over the company. [1]