What is Amaro?

With our newest release Caffè Amaro, a lot of people have asked us what amaro is or have been surprised that this new eau de parfum is not super coffee forward. So, I'll dive right into it!

What is amaro?

Amaro is the name for a variety of Italian herbal liqueurs with an alcohol content between 16% – 40%. The word amaro translates to "bitter" in Italian. These are drinks typically consumed after dinner as a digestif. And while concrete evidence of digestive aid is elusive, there is some scientific evidence to support mild benefits.

The creation process of amaro generally follows five steps:

1. A neutral alcohol base is selected. This is often a grape-derived spirit or grain alcohol.
2. Botanicals such as herbs, roots, spices and citrus peels are steeped in the alcohol. This part of the process can take weeks or months and the chosen ingredients vary by each region of Italy.
3. Post-infusion, the young amaro tends to be sweetened with sugar syrup or honey to help negate the bitterness.
4. Once the desired balance of alcohol, botanicals, and sweetness is attained, the mixture is aged from anywhere to a few months to multiple years.
5. The final step involves filtering to remove any leftover solids.

With each region of Italy having their own twists on amaro, we sampled notes from some of our favorites. Some of which have recipes dating back to the 19th century. Givaudan's wonderfully bright Vert de Mandarin Orpur and orange bitters create a beautiful Mediterranean opening. Artemisia (also known as wormwood), fennel, and our parsley accord give an herbaceous depth to the middle of Caffè Amaro. The genet absolute (Spanish broom) provides a sweetened floral component to help bring the entire composition together.

Why choose amaro as a main player in our Bianco Profumo lineup? It's one of those old school classic traditions that transferred over with family who moved to the United States in the early 1900s. It elicits fond memories of family time together after a large meal sharing boisterous conversation and huge laughs.

Saluti!