Meet the Family, Italian Amari

Amaro liqueurs, or ‘Amari’ in plural, are popular drinks known for their enticing bitterness. Most Amari go back to the middle ages when monks distilled the liqueurs not without first infusing them with roots, tree barks, herbs and spices. What were supposed to be medicinal potions soon found their place behind the bar. 

Some Amari liqueurs are fresh and lively, like Campari and Aperol, and they’re better enjoyed in cocktails or as aperitifs. Other Amari are thick and robust — these are ideal after-dinner drinks; some of the most popular include Averna and Fernet. We ought to have some bitterness in our lives, right?