R. Jelinek Amaro Liqueur
R. Jelinek Amaro Liqueur is a Czech amaro bottled at 30% ABV (60 proof), launched in the USA in June 2020. It is produced by macerating more than twenty different botanicals, mostly from local sources — orange peel, lime, and plum juice give it what the distillery calls a uniquely juicy, citrusy, bittersweet taste, with a nose that ranges from lemon to root beer. Made in Vizovice, Czech Republic by RUDOLF JELINEK (established 1894) in small batches, it scored 91 points at the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 30% (60 proof)
- Style: Czech amaro — herb liqueur from 20+ botanicals
- Profile: Bittersweet, juicy, citrusy — orange peel, lime, plum juice
- Origin: Vizovice, Czech Republic; RUDOLF JELINEK, established 1894
- Recognition: 91 points, 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards
The Czech Answer to Italian Amaro
Amaro means "bitter" in Italian, and for generations the category belonged almost entirely to Italy — but Central Europe has its own deep herbal-liqueur tradition. Jelinek's amaro macerates over twenty botanicals, many locally sourced, producing a brighter, more citrus-forward bitterness than the Alpine herb profile many drinkers expect. Find more amaro and bitters and the R. Jelinek range.
Tasting Notes
Dark amber in the glass with a complex nose — lemon, root notes, herbs, and a subtle root-beer note. The palate is bittersweet and balanced: juicy citrus zest, soft herbs, and plum, finishing harmonious, mildly bitter, and citrusy with real length.
How to Enjoy
Drink it neat or on a large ice cube as a digestif, or reach for it in cocktails: it brightens a spritz, deepens a Manhattan-style build, and works beautifully in a Czech-style sour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is amaro, and how is Czech amaro different from Italian amaro?
Amaro is a bittersweet herbal liqueur traditionally served as a digestif. Italian amari tend toward dark Alpine-herb bitterness; the Czech style, like Jelinek's, is brighter and more citrus-driven from orange peel, lime, and plum juice.
How do you drink amaro?
Amaro is excellent neat, on ice, or in cocktails. Lower-proof amari like this 60-proof expression work as aperitifs too, not just after dinner.
Is amaro a digestif or an aperitif?
Traditionally a digestif — its bitter botanicals settle the stomach after a meal. But brighter, citrus-forward amari also make excellent aperitifs with soda or in spritzes.
A brighter take on the bitter liqueur — order R. Jelinek Amaro Liqueur online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.