Amaro Nonino Quintessentia

This was my first amaro purchase. I mainly got it for a recipe that I wanted to make in one of my cocktail books and decided after a couple of months to give it a try on it's own. I was pleasantly surprised, it was very easy to drink and it got me interested in trying other amari. It's been a while since I opened this bottle, so the flavor profile may have changed slightly, but there is still over half the bottle, so maybe not. It's definitely not my favorite amaro, but it has its strong points and works pretty well in cocktails, but anyway onto the tasting. The aroma hits you with some spice and orange peel. The palate has a bittersweet taste, pretty syrupy, although less so than some of the lower proof amari out there. The orange peel is still there and even some stone fruit appears. On the way down, it has a little bite to it, but nothing crazy, especially for those that drink their whiskey or other spirits neat. The sweetness starts to come through in the finish, which actually lasts pretty long. Nonino has a lot of credibility in the grappa realm and this amaro is well made and I'm sure it will please most amaro fans, I just don't find it as good as the price tag would have you believe. If I removed the price tag from the review, I would probably bump this up to a 4. It's still pretty good and a quality after dinner drink, but I don't think I would spend the money just to use it in cocktails (I would lean towards Montenegro, which I feel is better and cheaper, or even the mainstays like Ramazzotti and Averna for cocktails that call for amaro).

4.11.22 Bottle Open: 5 Months Served: Neat, Flute Last intake: Water This follows a 10-day break from alcohol. Aroma: Dark chocolate, candied orange, fennel, hay, orange bell pepper. Flavor: Moderate sweetness. Moderate bitterness. Sweet/bitter balance is comparable to Cynar and Sfumato. Some alcohol burn. Bitterness lingers. Tastes of Orange peel and dark chocolate. Nuanced and pleasant, but nowhere near complex or enticing enough to justify the price. However, its balance makes it worth sipping on it's own, unlike montenegro. Of the few "light" style amari I've tried, this is the best. If running a bar program, it would be financially wise seek a worthy substitution for this in a paper plane, though so far, it is the only amaro that I've tried thus far that gives the right flavor. Good, but not worth $50.

1.25.22 Served: Rocks, Ice sphere Bottle Opened: 3 months. Aroma: Chocolate and lemon Flavor: Vaguely fruity summer popsicle. Notes are a bit harder to pick out when cold, but it is overall more pleasant when chilled.

Wonderfully light yet complex. Rich syrupy tree fruit sweetness, orange, light herbs and a soft hit of liqorice. Very lightly bitter mid palate. Excellent on its own, and essential for a Paper Plane. $49 in Ontario.

Cardamom and complex herbal aroma body contrast nicely with lingering sweet finish. Like an adult cream soda at 30%abv. Good alone or in cocktails. Expert review has an accurate description.

Unique amaro given its grappa base. The grappa does shine through, but there is also some strong sweet orangepeel notes at play. Less herbal than most amari.