Enrico Toro Genziana 72
Enrico Toro Genziana 72 is a bittersweet gentian amaro from Abruzzo, Italy — 25% ABV (50 proof), 750mL. Gentian root from the Apennine Mountains and rhubarb stalk from the Italian Alps are cold-infused into a high-proof neutral spirit: amber, floral, and herbaceous, with lemon-pith brightness over honey-like sweetness. A 94-point Gold at the Beverage Testing Institute (2022), from the house marketed as "The Oldest Digestivo in Abruzzo." It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 25% (50 proof) — confirmed by the importer (Preiss Imports sell sheet)
- Size: 750mL (importer sheet shows 700mL — bottle read recommended)
- Botanicals: gentian root (Apennines) + rhubarb (Italian Alps), cold infusion
- Style: bittersweet amaro; amber
- Origin: Tocco da Casauria, Abruzzo, Italy — Enrico Toro
- Award: 94 pts, Gold, Beverage Testing Institute 2022
Abruzzo's Oldest Digestivo
In the early 1800s Beniamino Toro Sr. moved to Tocco da Casauria in Abruzzo, where he discovered a local herbal elixir dating back to the Benedictine friars who built the San Clemente abbey in 1100. In 1817 Centerba Toro was born — some 200 wild and naturally grown herbs gathered on the slopes of the Maiella mountain — and Beniamino commercialized it from his pharmacy in the late 1800s. Genziana 72 follows the house tradition of mountain-gathered botanicals: gentian from the Apennines, rhubarb from the Italian Alps, extracted by cold infusion for a proprietary duration. Browse more amaro & bitters and Italian liqueurs at Del Mesa, or explore the producer's range at Enrico Toro.
Tasting Notes
Per the importer's sell sheet: bittersweet; floral brightness from gentian root complemented by the roundness of the rhubarb; lemon pith with honey-like sweetness; deep, herbaceous flavors from the infusion process.
How to Enjoy
Neat as a post-meal digestivo; as a bittering agent in cocktails with unaged spirits; in a White Negroni variation; and it pairs well with ginger and citrus in spritzes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Genziana 72?
A bittersweet gentian-and-rhubarb amaro (25% ABV) from Enrico Toro in Abruzzo, Italy — marketed as "The Oldest Digestivo in Abruzzo."
What does the "72" mean?
Unverified — one retailer claims it refers to 72 proof, but the importer confirms 25% ABV (50 proof), so that explanation is disproven; the true meaning isn't published.
How is Genziana 72 made?
Gentian root and rhubarb are extracted by cold infusion into a high-proof neutral grain spirit.
Has it won awards?
Yes — 94 points and Gold at the Beverage Testing Institute, 2022 (per the importer).
For a proper Italian digestivo, order Enrico Toro Genziana 72 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.