Meletti Amaro Liqueur
Meletti Amaro Liqueur is Amaro Meletti, the beloved bittersweet digestivo from Ascoli Piceno, bottled at 32% ABV (64 proof) under the ornate yellow label the house has used since the early 1900s. Where many amari lead with bitterness, Meletti leads with saffron, caramel and orange - silkier and more approachable than most, while still finishing properly bitter. A natural companion to the Amaro Nonino Quintessentia in our liqueurs collection.
- Style: Amaro (Italian herbal bitter liqueur)
- Key botanicals: Sibillini saffron, orange peel, gentian, clove, anise, violet
- Method: Cold extraction by percolation
- Origin: Ascoli Piceno, Le Marche, Italy
- ABV: 32% (64 proof)
- Size: 750mL
The Story
Ditta Silvio Meletti has made liqueurs in Ascoli Piceno, in Italy's Le Marche region on the Adriatic coast, since 1870 - five generations of the same family, working from Silvio Meletti's original recipes and his bain-marie still, a slow, gentle distillation he developed to protect delicate aromatics. Most ingredients still come from local Le Marche producers who grow exclusively for the house.
Silvio Meletti developed his amaro recipe at the end of the 19th century, and it has remained unchanged since. The botanicals - including precious saffron from the nearby Sibillini mountains - are cold-extracted through percolation rather than cooked, which preserves the floral, fruity top notes that make this amaro smell as good as it tastes.
Tasting Notes
Caramel, orange peel and cola nut up front, with cinnamon, clove and anise through the middle and saffron and violet in the background. The body is medium-full and silky; the finish balances gentle sweetness against a clean, appetizing bitterness.
How to Enjoy
Neat or over a big cube after dinner. It is famous in cocktails as a softer swap wherever amaro is called for - try it in a Black Manhattan or an Amaro sour. For the family's bolder pour, step up to the Meletti Fernet; for the aperitivo hour, start with the Meletti 1870 Bitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amaro Meletti very bitter?
No - it is one of the more approachable amari: bittersweet, with caramel, orange and saffron ahead of the gentian bitterness. A great first amaro.
What is in it?
A secret family blend of herbs and botanicals including Sibillini saffron, orange peel, gentian, clove, anise and violet, cold-extracted by percolation.
How do I serve it?
Neat or on the rocks as a digestivo, or in cocktails like the Black Manhattan.
Meletti Amaro Liqueur (750mL) is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, with fast, secure shipping on every order.