Silano Amaro 750ML

Silano Amaro 750ML is a 30% ABV Italian amaro from Calabria made with nine wild herbs and PDO Calabrian liquorice. Recognized with a Gold Medal at the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition, this expression carries the distinction of being the first amaro produced in the Calabria region — a heritage rooted in over 160 years of botanical tradition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 30% (60 Proof)  |  Origin: Calabria, Italy  |  Style: Herbal Amaro  |  Distillery: Bosco Liquori Srl (est. 1864)

Production & Heritage

Bosco Liquori Srl has been producing spirits in Cosenza, Calabria, since 1864. Silano Amaro is made through a slow maceration process using nine aromatic herbs gathered from the Calabrian wild: gentian, cloves, iris, rhubarb, quassia, yarrow, cardamom, coriander, and aloe ferox. A critical ingredient is pure Calabrian liquorice carrying Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, guaranteeing both its quality and geographic authenticity — a detail that separates this amaro from competitors relying on generic liquorice sourcing.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intensely aromatic from the first pour, with immediate impressions of cola and liquorice giving way to bitter orange peel and warm spice. Cloves and cardamom rise through the middle register, lending a layered complexity.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied, with a pronounced bitterness from gentian and rhubarb that arrives with distinctive robustness. Mid-palate, the sweetness of the syrup base meets the botanical bitterness head-on, producing a compelling equilibrium. Spicy nuances of cloves and cardamom emerge alongside caramel and walnut tones as the flavors develop.

Finish: The finish is lingering and herbal, with liquorice and bitter orange persisting well after the last sip. A dry, resinous quality from the gentian root anchors the close, leaving a clean and refreshing bitterness on the palate.

How to Drink Silano Amaro

Silano Amaro is traditionally served well-chilled — many Calabrians store it in the freezer, which tempers the bitterness and amplifies the liquorice and herbal sweetness. It also works neat at room temperature for those who want to experience the full range of its nine botanicals.

In a Black Manhattan, Silano's robust bitterness and cola-like depth stand in confidently for sweet vermouth alongside rye whiskey. A Paper Plane benefits from its full-bodied herbal backbone, which holds its own against bourbon and Aperol. For a simple long drink, combine it with tonic water and a slice of orange for an Amaro & Tonic that highlights the bitter orange and liquorice notes.

Best For

• Gifting an Italian spirits enthusiast who appreciates regional amari beyond the mainstream
• After-dinner digestivo service at a dinner party featuring Southern Italian cuisine
• Building an amaro collection with distinctive regional expressions
• Exploring Calabrian food and drink traditions with an authentic local product

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Silano Amaro taste like? Silano Amaro is bold, full-bodied, and intensely herbal with dominant notes of liquorice, bitter orange, cola, and caramel balanced by the bitterness of gentian and rhubarb. Spicy undertones of cloves and cardamom add complexity to a profile that strikes a careful balance between sweet and bitter.

How does Silano Amaro compare to Vecchio Amaro del Capo? Both are Calabrian amari traditionally served from the freezer, but Silano Amaro leans more heavily into PDO Calabrian liquorice and gentian bitterness, resulting in a bolder and more robustly herbal profile. Vecchio Amaro del Capo tends toward a lighter, more citrus-forward and mentholated character.

Is Silano Amaro good for sipping neat? Silano Amaro is an excellent neat sipper, particularly when served chilled from the freezer in the Calabrian tradition. Its balanced interplay of sweetness and herbal bitterness at 30% ABV makes it approachable without sacrificing complexity.

Where is Silano Amaro made? Silano Amaro is produced by Bosco Liquori Srl in Cosenza, a city in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The distillery was established in 1864 and sources its wild herbs locally from the Calabrian landscape.

What foods pair well with Silano Amaro? Dark chocolate or chocolate torte mirrors its cola and caramel tones. Aged pecorino or sharp provolone contrasts the herbal bitterness effectively. Roasted walnuts echo the nutty undertones in the amaro. Citrus-dressed salads with arugula complement the bitter orange notes. 'Nduja or spicy Calabrian salumi match the spice-driven botanicals.

What sizes does Silano Amaro come in? Silano Amaro is available in a standard 750ml bottle.

Is Silano Amaro worth the price? Silano Amaro positions as a premium regional amaro with PDO-certified ingredients and a Gold Medal from the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition, placing it in strong value territory for collectors and enthusiasts seeking authentic Italian herbal liqueurs with verified provenance.

Why Silano Amaro?

What sets Silano Amaro apart is its use of PDO-certified Calabrian liquorice — a legally protected ingredient that guarantees geographic origin and quality, and one rarely highlighted in the amaro category. Produced by a distillery with roots stretching back to 1864, this is the original Calabrian amaro, a claim that gives it historical weight in a crowded market. Its Gold Medal at the 2020 New York International Spirits Competition confirms that the bold, nine-botanical recipe translates beyond its home region. For anyone looking past the usual Milanese or Alpine amari, Silano represents a genuinely distinct Southern Italian tradition with documented pedigree.