Cinpatrazzo Amaro 750ML

Cinpatrazzo Amaro 750ML is a Chicago-produced American amaro made with 19 botanicals and sweetened with raw honey, bottled at 21.5% ABV (43 proof) in a 750ml format. It earned a Gold medal at the 2018 San Diego International Spirits Competition and a Silver medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, establishing itself among the most recognized craft amari produced in the United States.

Quick Facts: ABV: 21.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA  |  Style: American Amaro  |  Producer: Cinpatrazzo

Production & Heritage

Cinpatrazzo is a craft spirits producer based in Chicago, Illinois, focused on reinterpreting the Italian amaro tradition with American-sourced ingredients and contemporary technique. The production process begins with 19 botanicals — including arugula, sage, and mint hydroponically grown specifically for the brand — macerated in French grain neutral spirits at low proof for up to five weeks before filtration. Rather than using refined sugar, Cinpatrazzo sweetens the blend with Michigan raw honey, contributing a rounded, floral sweetness that distinguishes it from conventionally produced amari. Additional botanicals include Seville oranges grown in California's Coachella Valley, fresh vanilla beans, coffee, cloves, cardamom, hazelnut, licorice root, and gentian.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with intense dark chocolate and cocoa powder, followed by sour cherry and a berry-forward sweetness. Underneath, hints of vanilla and caramel provide warmth and depth.

Taste: On the palate, the amaro is fruitier than its dark appearance suggests, with cherry notes dominating the entry. The mid-palate introduces a rhubarb-like tartness alongside sweet licorice candy, while the raw honey base lends a soft, rounded mouthfeel rather than cloying sweetness. Bitter elements from gentian and other roots emerge gradually, balancing the fruit.

Finish: The finish is soothing and bittersweet, with lingering gentian, almond, and clove notes that persist at moderate length. A trace of dark chocolate returns on the close, tying back to the opening aroma.

How to Drink Cinpatrazzo

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the most direct way to appreciate the interplay between honey sweetness and botanical bitterness. A small splash of soda water opens up the fruit character without diluting the amaro's structure.

• Paper Plane: Cinpatrazzo's cherry and licorice notes slot naturally into this equal-parts modern classic alongside bourbon, Aperol, and lemon juice.
• Black Manhattan: Substituting Cinpatrazzo for sweet vermouth adds honey-rounded depth and gentian bitterness that pairs well with rye whiskey and Angostura bitters.
• Amaro Sour: Shaken with lemon juice and simple syrup, the amaro's fruit-forward profile and moderate ABV create a balanced, sessionable cocktail.

Best For

• Introducing amaro-curious drinkers to the category through an approachable, fruit-forward expression
• Gifting craft spirits enthusiasts who value American-made, small-batch production
• Building a diverse home amaro collection with a distinctly non-Italian entry
• After-dinner digestif service when a lighter, honey-sweetened option is preferred

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cinpatrazzo taste like? Cinpatrazzo leads with pronounced dark cherry and cocoa notes, balanced by sweet licorice and a bittersweet gentian backbone. Michigan raw honey provides a soft, floral sweetness in place of the sharper sugar character found in many traditional amari.

How does Cinpatrazzo compare to Amaro Montenegro? Both occupy the medium-bodied, approachable segment of the amaro spectrum, but Cinpatrazzo leans more fruit-forward with dominant cherry and rhubarb notes, while Montenegro is known for its more herbaceous, orange-peel-driven profile. Cinpatrazzo's use of raw honey as its sole sweetener and hydroponic botanicals also gives it a distinctly American production identity.

Is Cinpatrazzo good for cocktails? Its moderate 21.5% ABV and balanced sweetness-to-bitterness ratio make it highly versatile behind the bar, working well in stirred drinks like the Black Manhattan and shaken cocktails like the Paper Plane.

Where is Cinpatrazzo made? Cinpatrazzo is produced in Chicago, Illinois, using botanicals sourced from across the United States, including hydroponically grown herbs and Seville oranges from California's Coachella Valley.

What foods pair well with Cinpatrazzo? Dark chocolate desserts complement the cocoa and cherry notes. Aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano contrast well with the honey sweetness. Grilled stone fruits such as peaches or plums echo the amaro's fruit character. Charcuterie boards with salumi and olives balance the bitterness, and espresso-based desserts like tiramisu harmonize with the coffee botanical.

What sizes does Cinpatrazzo come in? Cinpatrazzo Amaro is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Cinpatrazzo worth the price? Cinpatrazzo positions as a craft-tier American amaro, priced above mass-market Italian imports but justified by its small-batch production, hydroponic botanicals, and raw honey sweetening — details that distinguish it from conventionally produced competitors in the category.

Why Cinpatrazzo?

What separates Cinpatrazzo from the growing field of American amari is its commitment to ingredient sourcing and an unconventional production approach. Hydroponically cultivating arugula, sage, and mint exclusively for maceration is a level of agricultural control rarely seen in the category. The extended five-week maceration at low proof extracts botanical complexity without harsh alcohol bite, and sweetening with Michigan raw honey rather than refined sugar gives the final product a textural softness that registered judges have rewarded — including Gold at the San Diego International Spirits Competition and Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For drinkers and bartenders seeking an amaro rooted in American craft tradition rather than Italian convention, Cinpatrazzo makes a compelling case.