Paolucci Amaro Ciociaro
Paolucci Amaro Ciociaro is an Italian bitter amaro from Sora in the Ciociaria region of Lazio — 750mL at 30% ABV (per US retail listings), made from an 1873 recipe by infusion of aromatic herbs in hydrated alcohol — and you can order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 30% (60 proof) per US retail listings; producer does not publish one
- Size: 750mL per US listings (some EU-format listings show 700mL — bottle read pending)
- Recipe: infusion of a complex variety of aromatic herbs in hydrated alcohol; recipe dated 1873
- Producer: Paolucci Liquori, Sora (Ciociaria, Frosinone), Lazio, Italy — founded by Vincenzo Paolucci in 1873, fourth-generation family company
- Recognition: Wine Enthusiast 95 / "Best Buy" (per US retail listings)
Ciociaria's Bitter Since 1873
The Ciociaria is old Lazio — hill country east of Rome — and Paolucci has been distilling there since Vincenzo Paolucci founded the company in 1873. This amaro (styled "Extra Bitter" on several US listings, plain "Amaro Ciociaro" on the brand's own site) is built on a complex infusion of aromatic herbs: intense brown in the glass, medicinal and officinal on the nose with notes of ink, balm, and quinine, then a full, balanced palate with a charming citrus note and pleasant residual sugar. Browse more from Paolucci, or explore the store's liqueurs and amaro & bitters shelves.
Tasting Notes
Nose — medicinal herbs, ink, balm, quinine/cinchona, balsamic character; palate — full and balanced with a citrus lift and slight sweetness. Serve it neat as a digestif, with ice and seltzer as an aperitif, or in cocktails — it's a natural Black Manhattan pour and a widely cited substitute for the extinct Amer Picon/Pichon.
How to Enjoy
Neat at room temperature after dinner, over ice with a splash of seltzer and an orange twist before it, or stirred into a Black Manhattan with rye whiskey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paolucci Amaro Ciociaro?
An Italian bitter amaro from Paolucci Liquori in Sora, Lazio, made by infusing aromatic herbs in alcohol from a recipe dated 1873. It takes its name from the Ciociaria region.
What is the ABV of Amaro Ciociaro?
US retail listings put it at 30% ABV (60 proof); the producer's own site does not publish an ABV.
Is it the same as "Amaro Ciociaro Extra Bitter"?
Several US retailers style it that way, while the official brand site lists it as plain "Amaro Ciociaro" — the label on Del Mesa's bottle will settle it.
How do you drink amaro?
Neat as a digestif, with ice and seltzer as an aperitif, or in cocktails like the Black Manhattan.
An old-Lazio bitter with real history: order Paolucci Amaro Ciociaro online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.