Ingredients
A light, spice-led recipe of bitter herbs, roots and warm baking spices, with cinnamon, cardamom and rhubarb the clearest voices. Moderately sweet and much lighter in body than the southern amari.
History of the Brand
Abano Terme has been a thermal spa town since Roman times, and its nineteenth-century visitors expected a digestivo with their cure.
Amaro Abano was first produced in 1888 for exactly that clientele — a gentle after-dinner bitter marketed on health as much as flavour.
It remained a Veneto regional favourite through the twentieth century while flashier brands took the national stage.
Luxardo now produces it, keeping the light, cinnamon-forward style that separates it from the syrupy southern amari.
Tasting Characteristics
Cinnamon, cardamom, orange peel and a faint mint lift.
Gentle sweetness, warm baking spice, mild rhubarb bitterness, clean texture.
Short to medium, warming, easy.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Neat at room temperature straight after a meal.
- 02Over ice with an orange twist.
- 03With soda for a light highball.
- 04In coffee as a corretto.
- 05As a gentle first amaro for newcomers.
Where to Get It
Widely sold in Italy, more limited abroad. Modestly priced wherever it turns up.
Specialty bottle shops
Ask for it by name; it is rarely displayed prominently.
Online spirits retailers
Search 'Amaro Abano Luxardo'.
Veneto
A standard bottle in bars around Padua and Abano Terme.
Where to buy Amaro Abano
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Amaro Abano FAQ
What is Amaro Abano?
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A light, spice-forward Italian amaro first produced in 1888 in the spa town of Abano Terme near Padua, bottled at 35% ABV.
What does Amaro Abano taste like?
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Cinnamon and cardamom over gentle rhubarb bitterness, with orange peel and a light, clean body.
Is Amaro Abano good for beginners?
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Very. Its low bitterness and warm baking-spice profile make it one of the easiest amari to start with.
Who makes Amaro Abano?
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It is produced by Luxardo, which maintains the original light, cinnamon-led Veneto style.
How do you drink Amaro Abano?
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Neat after a meal, over ice with an orange twist, with soda, or stirred into espresso.