Amaro Nonino is a unique Italian bitters worth discovering! It’s bittersweet, with hints of caramel, vanilla, and allspice.
Wondering what Amaro Nonino is and if it deserves a place in your liquor cabinet? This unique Italian Amaro is hard to find and quite a bit more expensive than other Italian bitters in the same family. Is it worth buying? Is there a replacement? What makes it so special? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Amaro Nonino Quintessentia?
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is an Italian amaro or bitter liqueur (amaro means “little bitter” in Italian). It was invented in 1992 by a distiller named Antonio Nonino in Friuli, Italy. It is unique because it is made from grappa enriched with herbs, fruits and botanicals. The bittersweet liqueur has aromatic notes of gentian, citrus and caramel.
Other Italian amari distributed by the Campari Group are easy to find, such as Campari, Aperol, Averna and Cynar. But Amaro Nonino is relatively hard to find and more expensive than the others amari.
How does Amaro Nonino taste?
Amaro Nonino is both bitter and sweet, with notes of orange, honey, vanilla, liquorice, allspice, mango, pepper and cocoa. It has a unique flavor worth seeking out, less sweet than others amari but still easy to drink. It tastes best on ice as an aperitif or in the famous Paper Plane cocktail. It’s like brown amari like Meletti and Cynar, but has a unique taste due to grappa.
How much alcohol is in Amaro Nonino? It’s 35% ABV (alcohol by volume), so has a relatively high alcohol content for one amaro. For example, Aperol has the lowest alcohol content at 11% ABV, Campari 24% ABV and Fernet-Branca the highest at 40-45% ABV (the same level as whisky, rum, vodka and gin).
Is there a replacement for Amaro Nonino? Replace it with another dark, herbal, sweet amaro like Amaro Averna, Amaro Meletti, Amaro Tosolin, or Cynar. Curiously, the German liqueur Jägermeister has a similar taste and makes a great substitute.
Why we love it
Amaro Nonino is so balanced amaro: It’s not as sweet as many others and, in our opinion, even easier to drink. It’s fun for the cocktail connoisseur. We love it in a paper airplane or mixed with sparkling water. Even better, try the cocktails below.
How much does it cost?
Compared to other liqueurs, Amaro is Nonino Darling. A 750ml bottle costs about $50.
The most popular Amaro Nonino cocktails
Amaro Nonino tastes great on its own, over ice, or you can mix it into drinks. Don’t want to follow a recipe? Mix it with sparkling water to make a makeshift vaporizer. Or check out these favorite Amaro Nonino cocktails:
The best Amaro Nonino cocktail? The paper plane! This must-have drink is a brilliant study in balance and contrast. Bitter, sweet and pungent at the same time, it creates a magical synergy between bourbon, amaro nonino and aperol.
Ingredients: Amaro Nonino, Aperol, Bourbon Whiskey, Lemon Juice
Get the recipe
This drink is another great way to enjoy the flavors of Amaro Nonino! It’s tingly, bittersweet and utterly refreshing. A cousin of the ubiquitous Aperol Spritz, the use of Amaro Nonino gives it a radiant golden brown with hints of citrus, liquorice and sweet and sour.
Ingredients: Amaro Nonino, Prosecco, mineral water
Continue reading
Trade at Amaro Nonino for a unique Black Manhattan experience! This elegant drink replaces sweet vermouth with this special amaro. It’s strong and alcoholic, like any good Manhattan, but with hints of cocoa and liquorice on the finish. This one is unique.
Ingredients: Amaro Nonino, Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, Bitters
Get the recipe
This intriguing take on the Negroni features Amaro Nonino, with notes of cocoa, citrus, liquorice, and a bitter, herbaceous finish. This makes for a smooth and more interesting Negroni in our opinion! It’s a twist on the classic Negroni, a classic cocktail invented in Italy in the 1920s.
Ingredients: Amaro Nonino, gin and sweet vermouth
Get the recipe
The description
The Paper Plane Cocktail is a must-try modern classic! Bittersweet and tangy, it strikes a magical balance between bourbon and amaro nonino.
- 1 ounce* Bourbon whiskey
- 1 ounce aperole
- 1 ounce Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- For garnish: lemon zest
- Pour bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon juice into a shaker. Fill with ice and shake until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge, if you like.
Remarks
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
- Category: drink
- Method: Shocked
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Amaro Nonino, Amaro Nonino Quintessence, Nonino Amaro, Amaro Nonino Cocktails
More cocktail guides
Need more alcohol guides? We know it ! Here’s everything you need to know about home bartending:
