🥃 Cynar
Italian amaro-style bitter aperitif made from artichoke leaves and 12 other plants; 16.5% ABV; created by Angelo Dalle Molle; owned by Campari Group since 1995.
Cynar is an Italian amaro-style bitter whose main ingredient is artichoke leaves. It was created by the Venetian entrepreneur Angelo Dalle Molle, and the standard version is 16.5% ABV. The brand has belonged to Campari Group since 1995, and the name comes from the Latin name of the artichoke, Cynara.
History. Sources give different years for its creation: Difford's Guide says 1949, VinePair says 1952. According to VinePair, the drink became widely known through commercials on the Italian TV programme "Carosello" featuring the actor Ernesto Calindri, which ran from 1957 to 1977.
How it is made. The producer speaks of 13 plants and herbs but names only the artichoke; according to VinePair, the recipe has not changed since the beginning. The taste is bittersweet, with caramel and spice. The standard version is 16.5% ABV, while Cynar 70 Proof, released in 2015, is 35% ABV, twice as strong.
Serving. Cynar is drunk chilled as a digestif, or over ice with orange and soda or tonic. Bartenders use it instead of Campari in a Negroni or instead of Aperol in a spritz. According to Difford's Guide, the flavour is bittersweet, with caramel, toffee, quinine bitterness and cinnamon, and it is traditionally served with orange and soda or tonic.
Why this matters to you. Cynar is not artichoke juice and not a medicine: it is an alcoholic drink with plant bitterness. Cynar and Cynar 70 Proof differ twofold in strength, so check the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1949 (Difford's Guide) or 1952 (VinePair); Angelo Dalle Molle |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I; by composition closest to category 30, bitter spirit drink (bitter) |
| EU category | 30 — bitter spirit drink (bitter), from 15% ABV; the producer decides on the category |
| Raw material | artichoke leaves (Cynara scolymus) and 12 other plant ingredients |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 16.5% ABV (Cynar); 35% ABV (Cynar 70 Proof) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Cynar → kind of → 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Campari Group
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Bitter (bitter-tasting spirit drink), 🥃 Campari, 🥃 Aperol, 🥃 Jägermeister, 🥃 Campari Negroni, 🥃 Campari Soda, 🥃 Campari Spritz Ready-to-Serve, 🥃 Zwack, 🥃 Zwack, 🥃 Malört, 🥃 Malört, 🥃 Punt e Mes
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Cynar is made only from artichoke?
No. The producer speaks of 13 plants and herbs but names only the artichoke. Difford's Guide lists artichoke leaves and 12 other plant ingredients.
What is the strength of Cynar?
The standard version is 16.5% ABV. Cynar 70 Proof is 35% ABV.
Who makes Cynar?
Campari Group, since 1995.
When was Cynar created?
Sources differ: Difford's Guide says 1949, VinePair says 1952. The recipe's author is Angelo Dalle Molle.
Where does the name Cynar come from?
From the Latin name of the artichoke, Cynara.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 Southern Europe — The Mediterranean south of Europe — Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses and most of the world's olive oil.
- 🥃 Jägermeister — German herbal liqueur from Wolfenbüttel: 56 herbs, flowers, roots and fruits are steeped in alcohol, and the base then ages for about a year in oak casks.
- 🍸 Bitter (bitter-tasting spirit drink) — Spirit drink with a predominantly bitter taste: flavoured alcohol or distillate from 15% vol.; EU category 30.
Similar
🥃 Aperol · 🥃 Campari · 🥃 Averna · 🥃 Ratzeputz · 🥃 Gammel Dansk · 🥃 Malört
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- VinePair: Cynar (Angelo Dalle Molle, 1952, 16.5 % ABV, 13 herbs and plants, Cynar 70 at 35 % in 2015, Carosello ads 1957-1977)
- Difford's Guide: Cynar (artichoke leaves and 12 other botanicals, 16.5 %, created 1949 per guide, Gruppo Campari since 1995)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I: categories (26 pastis, 27 pastis de Marseille, 30 bitter, 32 pacharán, 33 liqueur) — legislation.gov.uk copy
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)