Amaro Lucano

Appearance: Translucent brown with a hint of red, but very dark. You need to hold it to a bright light in order to see through. Aroma: Orange peel, bouquet garni, green vegetables, lavender - however the orange aroma is dominant. There is a trace of resin, eucalyptus oil and celery. Flavour and Texture: Sweet orange, juicy but slightly bitter. There are no "medicinal" flavours in this amaro. As it stays on the palate more bitter notes emerge, clearly originating from a complex array of herbal components, notably parsley, clary sage, angelica, gentian and wormwood. There is a comfortable warmth and although bitterness does become a little more obvious over time it never challenges the sweet character. The texture is thick and syrupy. Lucano is another of the classic amari that originated back in the late 19th century. Like Averna it has a profile focused on bitter citrus, almost certainly peel from the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree, but it is balanced by a big herbal presence. There is an aroma and taste here that is very reminiscent of celery, or celeriac, but it's actually clary sage. The herb provides the same foundation in this amaro that celery does in a cooking stock, and it's particularly important here because unlike many amari Lucano uses comparatively few root-extract ingredients. The profile is a little like Meletti, if you know that amaro, although a touch less floral and more herbal. The recipe is herbal and gentle in character, with the bitter notes contributed by leaf and flower extracts. (There is an hilarious typo on the Distiller official summary description for this that lists "woodworm" as an ingredient. LOL. They mean wormwood, of course). If you can't quite get the aroma of clary sage when tasting, drain the glass and let it air, then smell it and think of celery. You'll sense it instantly and after that you'll always smell and taste it. A pleasant aperitif and a good ingredient for cocktails and mixed drinks. The next time you make traditional sangria, try adding a half-cup of this to the pitcher. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Amaro Lucano is one of the more versatile Amari out there. It's easy to drink, with just the right amount of complexity to make it interesting. It also shines in most cocktails that call for an amaro. Mint hints you first when you nose this one, followed by some herbal notes and sassafras. On the palate it is thick, almost syrupy, with a touch of gentian and chocolate notes. There is no burn whatsoever on the finish, as it closes sweet but quickly fades. I've had better Amari neat, but the value is very high for this one. Outside of Meletti, it's hard to find sub-$25 bottles of amaro. I have noticed it going up in price in some locations, so maybe the value is starting to dissipate. Either way, it's a solid everyday type amaro that works in cocktails or neat after a large meal.

A tasty and traditional amaro that has just the right amount of bitterness. Somewhat viscous, with a heavy mouthfeel, there is a good balance between the sweet and bitter, with rich notes of foraged forest floor herbs and garden herbs. We like this in a Manhattan in place of sweet vermouth, for a darker take on the classic. We’ve also been enjoying it on the rocks with an orange wheel. Quite refreshing and a great opener to the evening’s festivities. Alla Salute!

3.8.22 Served: Neat, Flute Bottle Open: Same Day Aroma: Cola with somewhat a savory finish. Flavor: Root beer bottle caps. Fairly bitter, thought not nearly at fernet levels. Comparable to Ramazotti, Averna, or Amaro della Sacra. I anticipate it standing up well in simple cocktails.

Solid amaro, but leaves you wanting more if you are into bitter. Promising on the palate but the finish is uninteresting.

Mainstream amaro that is lacking a bit in soul. Some pleasant minty notes in the finish but I don't love the build-up.