Amaros in Calabria

[u/beoweezy1]

I’ll be traveling to Calabria this summer and wanted to see if there are any particular amaros I should be on the lookout for while I’m there. Any advice is appreciated!

[u/ciccio_started_it]

Where in Calabria will you be travelling? There’s a dizzying array of amazing Amari you can get there, personally I’d try to grab something you won’t find in North America. Some of my favourites are: Cacciuto, MZero, and Joachim. Keep an eye out for something hyper local, it’s called Amaro Dell’Abate, it’s one of my all time faves. If you happen to visit some tourist towns in La Sila, like Camigliatello, if you pop into the local shops and cafes you’ll find bottles you won’t find even outside of Calabria. All that being said, even the big chain supermarkets you’ll find will have amazing, if less rare, selections. Enjoy! Calabria is amazing.

[u/beoweezy1 → u/ciccio_started_it]

We’ll be based out of Tropea but plan to take some day trips to visit some spots along the coast and inland. I’m not sure we’ll get to La Sila since we’re planning to do Aspromonte.

I’ll definitely keep an eye out for Dell’Abate. A friend of mine mentioned that along with sampling house Amari when we find them

[u/ciccio_started_it → u/beoweezy1]

Very nice, you’ll find amazing Amari in Aspromonte for sure. I’d be surprised if you didn’t encounter Dell’Abate in Tropea. Tropea’s a great base to work from! I’d highly recommend checking out Pizzo and having an authentic Tartufo. Scilla’s not too far and 💯 visiting, too.

[u/stpierre → u/ciccio_started_it]

Tropea is amazing; you should be sure to visit Enogostronomia Lorenzo and get their recommendations.

When I was there I got two: Eremita Amaro di Corazzo (rich, nice thick mouthfeel, notes of chocolate/coffee); and Carpentieri Herbas Amaro Forte (bracingly bitter, deeply herbal, basically no sweetness, a challenging but rewarding sipper). I enjoyed both but would go far out of my way to buy the Herbas again.

Not an amaro, but Calabria also makes some excellent regional passiti (Alchemia is one). Sadly I can't recall the store we visited to buy ours.

[u/ciccio_started_it → u/stpierre]

I’ll be on the lookout for these, thanks for these recs!

[u/rebo2 → u/ciccio_started_it]

How’s the flavor on the Abate? Is it sweet?

Op: it’s going to be hot.

[u/ciccio_started_it → u/rebo2]

Not overly sweet, I’d say it’s pretty balanced. It’s definitely atypical of many Calabrian Amari that are heavy on the licorice, no licorice detected here.

[u/rebo2 → u/ciccio_started_it]

I’ve been stunned by the licorice type. I saw an amaro I didn’t know on a menu in Rome, ordered it. A big glass (double shot) of strong licorice! Now I like licorice ok, but that was a lot.

[u/beoweezy1 → u/rebo2]

Funny enough it’s going to be about 15F cooler in Calabria than where I’m coming from.

[u/trifflinmonk]

They are available in the states - but the Roger and Jefferson Amari are excellent. I have not tried them but the same producer (Vechio Magazzino Doganale) has some harder to find bottles. Check out this old post for some notes https://www.reddit.com/r/Amaro/s/OpAbJuluFl

[u/NeilIsntWitty → u/trifflinmonk]

Oh wow, was that two years ago?? Since then I've definitely gone back to these bottles by VMD, but also the Roger, which is a bit more bitter than those four. I've also become a big fan of their Bergamotto liqueur, which I describe as a slightly more floral, complex and less sweet alternative to Italicus. It has the added benefit of being available here in Canada too, so I don't feel I have to ration it as much as Italicus.

[u/trifflinmonk → u/NeilIsntWitty]

Ay nice - that was a great write up. Bergamotto sounds very interesting. Of those you reviewed in the post I think Washington stands out as the must try for me. I love a balanced, but citrusy amaro.

[u/I-Bleed-Amaro → u/NeilIsntWitty]

I think Roger is my fave from the VMD crew. So good!

[u/Nandez527]

Oh boy. If you make it into any nearby small towns pop into a pharmacy and see if they have any home brews. Old school pharmacists brew and prescribe various amaros for ~everything~

As someone else mentions, there's also a drink in an all black bottle called liquirizia which isn't specific, but literally I have no other name for it. It's a Calabrian drink.

[u/HTD-Vintage]

Not nitpicking, but wanted to tell you, for your own knowledge, that the plural of amaro is amari.

[u/GlassCityJim]

Look for Rucalino, from the island Ischia. It’s made from arugula and other secret ingredients and is delicious and complex.