Ingredients
The same herbalist tradition as Sibilla, taken in the opposite direction: lower proof, unfiltered and left cloudy with the sediment of its own infusion. Wild honey does all the sweetening, and gentian, rhubarb and mountain herbs supply a bitterness that reads more vegetal than medicinal.
- ✦Raw wild honey
- ✦Gentian root
- ✦Rhubarb root
- ✦Chinotto
- ✦Mountain herbs of the Sibillini
- ✦Bitter roots (undisclosed)
History of the Brand
"Erborista" means herbalist, and the name is a direct reference to Girolamo Varnelli, who trained as one before founding the distillery in 1868 to supply remedies to Apennine farming communities.
The recipe is presented as the closest thing Varnelli still makes to those original preparations: no filtration, no clarification, no cosmetic adjustment.
Because it is unfiltered, the liquid throws sediment and turns cloudy in the bottle. That is the intended state, not a defect, and the label says so.
Critics and bartenders adopted it in the 2010s as a reference point for what small-scale Italian amaro could taste like before industrial production standardized the category.
Tasting Characteristics
Raw honeycomb, beeswax, damp herbs, chamomile and a faint barnyard funk.
Soft and honey-sweet, then a green, chewy bitterness — gentian, rhubarb stalk, hay.
Medium-long, drying, with honey and bitter root in balance.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Neat and lightly chilled — the low ABV makes it an easy after-dinner pour.
- 02Shake the bottle gently before pouring to redistribute the sediment.
- 03Over ice with a splash of soda as a long, low-alcohol digestivo.
- 04With honey-drizzled pecorino, its natural pairing.
- 05In an amaro sour, where the honey replaces most of the syrup.
Where to Get It
Small production and patchy distribution. Amaro-focused shops and specialist online retailers stock it, often alongside Sibilla.
Specialty bottle shops
Expect $45–$55; not a supermarket bottle.
Online spirits retailers
Intermittent stock — sign up for restock alerts.
Italy
Reliably available in the Marche and through Varnelli's regional network.
Affiliate buying links coming soon.
Amaro dell'Erborista FAQ
What is Amaro dell'Erborista?
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An unfiltered honey amaro from Distilleria Varnelli in the Marche, bottled at 21% ABV and sweetened entirely with raw wild honey.
Why is Amaro dell'Erborista cloudy?
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It is bottled unfiltered, so the infusion's own sediment stays in the liquid. Cloudiness and settling are intended; give the bottle a gentle turn before pouring.
What does Amaro dell'Erborista taste like?
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Raw honeycomb and beeswax on the nose, then a green, vegetal bitterness of gentian and rhubarb stalk, finishing dry but soft.
How strong is Amaro dell'Erborista?
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21% ABV, which is low for the category — closer to a vermouth than to a standard 30%+ amaro.
Erborista or Sibilla — which should I buy first?
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Sibilla if you want intensity and a bittersweet sipping amaro at 34% ABV; Erborista if you want the rustic, low-proof, unfiltered version of the same house style.