Its bitter reputation is not only well-deserved but evergreen. Amaro (whose name is indeed the Italian for the adjective bitter) is Italy’s signature liqueur, a spirit that offers much more than its intense taste and syrupy texture.

It’s a proper end to every Italian meal, an after-coffee combination of creativity, affability, and tradition. The Bel Paese is one of the world’s top producers of amaro, but the United States has seen a huge trend of outstanding bitters being produced domestically, from Minnesota to Brooklyn.