Averna Amaro Siciliano
Averna Amaro Siciliano is a 29% ABV (58 proof) Italian amaro in a 750mL bottle — a bittersweet herbal liqueur from Caltanissetta, Sicily, made to a recipe the Benedictine monks of the Abbazia di Santo Spirito gifted to Salvatore Averna in 1868, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 29% (58 proof) — historically 32%; current bottlings are 29%
- Size: 750mL
- Style: amaro — bittersweet Italian herbal liqueur, traditionally a digestif
- Recipe: ~60 botanicals (bitter orange, Sicilian lemon, pomegranate, myrtle, juniper, rosemary, sage, licorice, gentian, mint) macerated in pure alcohol, reduced with water, sugar, and caramel, matured ~45 days
- Origin: Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy — produced there since 1868
- House: Fratelli Averna; Campari acquired it in 2014, ownership passed to the Disaronno Group in 2026
Sicily's Bittersweet Gift Since 1868
The story starts with monks: in 1868, the Benedictines of the Abbazia di Santo Spirito handed their herbal infusion recipe to Salvatore Averna, who began producing it for guests at his Caltanissetta home. The liqueur earned the right to carry the House of Savoy royal crest, and the recipe is reportedly unchanged since. Production follows the old method — herbs, roots, spices, pomegranates, and essential oils of bitter orange and lemon are crushed and macerated in pure alcohol, then reduced to drinking strength with water, sugar, and caramel (which give Averna its dark color and viscous texture) and matured about 45 days before bottling. "Siciliano" is the heritage marker: Mediterranean botanicals, made in Sicily. Browse our liqueurs shelf, explore the Averna range, or compare other amari and bitters.
Tasting Notes
Dark and aromatic on the nose — bitter orange and caramel, cola-like sweetness, Mediterranean herbs, licorice root, dried citrus peel, and hints of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. The palate is thick, silky, and bittersweet: caramel sweetness first, then bitter orange zest, cola, mocha, and licorice over an herbal myrtle-and-gentian backbone. The finish is medium-long, clean, and pleasantly drying, with licorice, cola, and bitter orange lingering. Sweeter and more approachable than many amari.
How to Enjoy
The classic serve is neat or on the rocks as a digestif, traditionally with a slice of lemon or orange peel. It's also a cocktail workhorse — an Averna Spritz with prosecco, Manhattan and Boulevardier variations, or ginger beer highballs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is amaro?
Italian for "bitter" — a category of bittersweet herbal liqueurs traditionally served as digestifs after meals.
What does "Siciliano" mean?
It's Averna's geographic and heritage marker: produced in Caltanissetta, Sicily since 1868 from Mediterranean botanicals.
What is Averna's alcohol content?
29% ABV — on the stronger side for amaro (Campari is 24%), but milder than straight spirits.
How should you drink Averna?
Neat or on ice as a digestif with citrus, or in cocktails like spritzes and whiskey variations.
Add Sicily's classic amaro to your bar — order Averna Amaro Siciliano online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.