Got a bottle of amaro, or need an excuse to grab one? Amaro is trending: and it’s got no where to go but up! As two cocktail experts and certified mixologists, amari are one of our favorite spirits to incorporate in drinks. Here are all our best must-try amaro cocktails to mix up with a bottle!
What is an amaro?
Amaro or amari (plural) refers to a family of Italian herbal liqueurs that taste bitter (amaro means “bitter” in Italian). It is typically enjoyed as an after-dinner digestif, but can be used in a variety of cocktails. Amari are made by infusing a neutral spirit with a blend of herbs, roots, spices, and other botanicals, then sweetened with sugar and aged.
And now…the top amaro cocktails!
More cocktail recipes
Looking for more drinks outside of these amaro cocktails? We’ve got 200+ cocktails for every occasion: Here are the amari represented in the amaro cocktails below, from bright red and citrusy to brown and caramelly! Each cocktail in the list includes a brief definition of tasting notes for each type. You can interchange any of the brown, bittersweet amaro types of items 1-6. Amaro in this cocktail: Amaro Averna is an Italian amaro made in Sicily, Italy since 1868. It’s dark brown and the flavor is spicy, and herbal, with caramel and honey notes. Amaro in this cocktail: Amaro Meletti is a dark brown, sweet amaro. It’s rich and caramel-y, complex and balanced, with flavors from saffron to anise. Or make it into a Cynar Spritz with another tasty amaro, Cynar! Amaro in this cocktail: Nonino Quintessentia Amaro has hints of caramel, vanilla, allspice, and bitter orange. This is the type of amaro originally used for the the Paper Plane, but you can also use Meletti. Amaro in this cocktail: Amaro Tosolini is a rich medium brown amaro that’s sweet and herbal, with a spicy citrusy finish. Amaro in this cocktail: Cynar is an amaro made with 13 herbs and spices including artichoke leaves. It tastes bittersweet, with notes of caramel, toffee and cinnamon. Amaro in this cocktail: Cynar Amaro in this cocktail: Fernet Branca, an intensely bitter and herbaceous liqueur. It has a higher alcohol content than most amaros: 40 to 45% alcohol. (Say it “Fair-net brahn-ka”.) Amaro in this cocktail: Fernet-Branca Amaro in this cocktail: Fernet-Branca Amaro in this cocktail: Campari is the most popular Italian amaro, at the bitter end of the spectrum. It’s bright red in color and tastes spicy, citrusy and intensely bitter. Amaro in this cocktail: Campari Amaro in this cocktail: Campari Amaro in this cocktail: Campari Amaro in this cocktail: Aperol, another popular Italian amaro at the sweet end of the spectrum. It’s bright orange and lightly sweet, bitter, and balanced, with a finish of herbs and orange. Amaro in this cocktail: Aperol
Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or Great Cocktail Recipes. Easy: These 10 Easy Mixed Drinks and Cheap Drinks have just 2 to 3 ingredients. The Big 5: Try the best cocktails with Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Tequila or Rum. By Season: Go for drinks in Fall, Winter, Holiday, or Summer. By Ingredient: Try our cocktails with Cointreau, Amaretto, Wine, Cranberry, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Campari, Vermouth, Coffee, or Orange Juice.
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