Ingredients
Averna's recipe came from the abbey of Santo Spirito in Caltanissetta and remains secret — dozens of botanicals, only a handful of which the house names. It is built on an infusion of Mediterranean herbs, roots and citrus rinds, sweetened with caramel and sugar syrup, which gives the amaro its dark color and its cola-and-toffee character. Official and widely reported notes point to bitter orange, lemon, pomegranate, myrtle, juniper, rosemary, sage and licorice; anything beyond that is inference.
- ✦Bitter orange peel
- ✦Lemon peel
- ✦Pomegranate
- ✦Myrtle
- ✦Juniper
- ✦Rosemary
- ✦Sage
- ✦Licorice root
- ✦Caramel
History of the Brand
The recipe reached Salvatore Averna, a textile merchant and benefactor of the Santo Spirito monastery in Caltanissetta, as a gift from the monks — the brand dates the gift to 1868, while several historical accounts put it in 1859 with commercial production beginning in 1868. Santo Spirito is an old Benedictine foundation, but the 19th-century figure in the story is the Capuchin friar Frà Girolamo; official materials usually just say "the abbey" or "a monk."
His son Francesco took it national, winning recognition from Umberto I in 1895 and, in 1912, the Brevetto della Real Casa from Victor Emmanuel III — a royal warrant that still appears on the label.
For more than a century Averna stayed a family business in Caltanissetta, becoming a symbol of Sicilian hospitality alongside its role as the island's default after-dinner pour.
Campari Group bought Fratelli Averna in 2014 and kept the botanical infusion in Caltanissetta, though bottling has at times been handled in northern Italy. Averna Riserva Don Salvatore, a richer barrel-rested expression, arrived for the brand's 150th anniversary. In 2025–26 Campari sold Averna (along with Zedda Piras) to Illva Saronno, the Disaronno group, which owns the brand today.
Tasting Characteristics
Burnt caramel and cola first, then dried orange peel, licorice and a faint resinous herbal edge.
Velvety and sweet: toffee, raisin, orange marmalade and anise, with the bitterness arriving late and softly, more like dark chocolate than gentian.
Medium-long and warming, with cola, licorice root and a clean herbal bitterness that keeps it from cloying.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Neat after dinner with a square of dark chocolate — the classic Sicilian pairing.
- 02Over a large ice cube with an orange twist.
- 03In an Averna Sour, where lemon cuts the caramel sweetness perfectly.
- 04As the amaro in a Black Manhattan or Boulevardier variation.
- 05Long with soda and lemon for a light, cola-ish highball.
Where to Get It
One of the most widely distributed amari in the world and a reliable first bottle. Nearly every bottle shop and cocktail bar stocks it.
Local bottle shops
Almost always available at $25–$32 for a 750ml.
Online spirits retailers
Universally listed; look for Riserva Don Salvatore for a richer version.
Italian restaurants
A standard house digestivo, and an easy way to taste before buying.
Where to buy Amaro Averna
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Amaro Averna FAQ
What is Amaro Averna?
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A Sicilian amaro produced in Caltanissetta since 1868, based on a herbal elixir recipe given to Salvatore Averna by monks of the Santo Spirito abbey. It is bottled at 29% ABV and sweetened with caramel, giving it its dark color and toffee character.
Who owns Averna?
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Illva Saronno, the Disaronno group, which acquired the brand from Campari Group in 2025–26. Campari had owned it since 2014, and the Averna family before that. Botanical infusion remains in Caltanissetta, Sicily.
What does Averna taste like?
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Rich caramel and cola, dried orange peel, licorice and raisin, with soft bitterness arriving at the end. It is one of the sweeter, rounder classic amari.
Averna or Montenegro — which should I buy first?
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Montenegro is lighter, floral and citrus-driven; Averna is heavier, sweeter and more caramel-led. If you like vanilla and dried fruit, start with Averna; if you prefer bright orange blossom, start with Montenegro.
How do you drink Averna?
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Neat after dinner, ideally with dark chocolate, or over a large ice cube with orange. In cocktails it shines in the Averna Sour and as a stand-in for sweet vermouth in whiskey drinks.
What is Averna Riserva Don Salvatore?
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A richer, more concentrated expression of Averna with additional cask influence, aimed at drinkers who want more depth and spice than the standard bottling.