The cellar index

CordialsCollection 06

Herbal Liqueurs & Amaro

Herbs, roots, peel and spice, spanning fragrant sweetness and a deliberately bitter finish.

Origin & traditionFrance, Italy & beyond

Character & context

Understanding Herbal Liqueurs & Amaro

Herbal liqueurs use botanical ingredients to create layered aromas on a sweetened spirit base. Chartreuse is a celebrated example of a complex botanical recipe. Italian amaro brings another direction, with bitterness playing a larger role. This is a broad shelf, so look at the named style and producer: a sweet herbal liqueur, bitter digestif and concentrated cocktail bitters serve different purposes.

Further reading: Chartreuse — the liqueur's history · WSET — spirits, bitters and liqueur styles

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