In Italy, the end of a meal doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the evening. There may still be coffee, more conversation and, quite often, a glass of amaro. For generations, the bitter herbal liqueur has had a spot on Italian tables, particularly as a digestivo. And few are as closely tied to Sicily as Averna, created in Caltanissetta in 1868.
Amaro is no longer a distinctly Italian habit. Bottles once unfamiliar to many American drinkers are turning up behind bars and on restaurant menus across the U.S., as interest grows in the flavors and rituals of Italian drinking culture. Alicia DeVincenzo, advocacy and engagement manager at Disaronno International, the company behind Averna, spoke with Appetito about why Americans are reaching for amaro.
