🥃 Amaro Lucano

Amaro Lucano is an Italian herbal bitter liqueur from the town of Pisticci in Basilicata. Pastry chef Pasquale Vena created it in 1894. The recipe is kept secret, and the drink is bottled at 28% ABV. The family company Lucano 1894 still makes it, and the founder's descendants, now in the fourth generation, still run it.

History. According to Difford's Guide, Pasquale Vena made the drink in the back room of his pastry shop in Pisticci. The producer describes him as a cavaliere and a pastry chef interested in herbal remedies. In 1965 production moved to a new plant at Pisticci Scalo. The company is now run by the founder's grandson Pasquale, together with his wife Rosistella and their children. The producer says the drink reached the Savoy court and became a favourite there.

How it's made. The blend is secret. The producer speaks of more than 30 herbs, while Difford's Guide names more than a dozen: Roman and absinthe wormwood, clary sage, musk yarrow, blessed thistle, bitter orange peel, gentian, angelica, elderberry, rue and aloe.

Range. The core product is the classic Amaro Lucano. For the company's 120th anniversary a special edition, Lucano Anniversario, was released, which the producer presents as a separate issue for the jubilee.

Why it matters to you. Amaro is a bitter herbal drink, not a soft drink or a tonic. At 28% ABV it is less strong than whisky, but it contains the same alcohol. Herb lists on other websites vary because the producer does not disclose the recipe, so rely on the official label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.