Ingredients
Nardini is unusual among amari because its base is the house grappa rather than a neutral spirit, which gives it a grappy, faintly floral backbone. The infusion is built around gentian root, peppermint, bitter orange and other Alpine and Mediterranean botanicals. Its high essential-oil content is why the amaro louches — turning milky — the moment it meets water or ice, a party trick locals call the mezzo e mezzo effect.
- ✦Gentian root
- ✦Peppermint
- ✦Bitter orange peel
- ✦Rhubarb root
- ✦Chinchona (cinchona) bark
- ✦Wormwood
- ✦Cardamom
- ✦Cloves
- ✦Licorice root
History of the Brand
Bortolo Nardini opened his distillery in 1779 at the foot of the wooden Ponte Vecchio in Bassano del Grappa, making it the oldest grappa distillery in Italy. The tavern beside the bridge, the Grapperia Nardini, still serves drinkers today.
As the family expanded beyond pure grappa in the 19th century, they built an amaro on their own distillate rather than buying neutral alcohol — a decision that still separates Nardini from nearly every other amaro on the shelf.
The house drink of Bassano is the Mezzo e Mezzo: half Nardini Rosso aperitivo, half Nardini Amaro (or Rabarbaro), served with soda. Locals order it at the bridge before lunch, and it remains the town's civic cocktail.
Nardini is still owned and run by the Nardini family after seven generations, and the distillery's futuristic glass 'bolle' pavilions by architect Massimiliano Fuksas mark its modern face outside town.
Tasting Characteristics
Peppermint and eucalyptus first, then orange peel, root beer spice and a distinct grappa fruitiness.
Dry and assertively bitter: gentian and rhubarb root, cooling menthol, faint anise and cardamom, with only a whisper of sugar to round it.
Long, clean and mentholated, with lingering gentian bitterness that scrubs the palate rather than coating it.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Mezzo e Mezzo: equal parts Nardini Amaro and Nardini Rosso, topped with soda — the Bassano ritual.
- 02Neat at room temperature after a heavy meal, the way it is drunk in Veneto.
- 03Over one big cube with soda and a lemon peel; watch it turn cloudy.
- 04As a bracing swap for Fernet in a Hanky Panky or a Toronto.
- 05Half-ounce float on a whiskey sour for menthol lift.
Where to Get It
Widely imported to the US and UK, usually in the tall 1-liter bottle. Cocktail-focused shops stock it reliably; general grocery liquor aisles often do not.
Specialty bottle shops
Look in the amaro section near Fernet and Braulio; $30–$40 for a liter is normal.
Online spirits retailers
Consistently listed; the Rosso aperitivo is often sold alongside for Mezzo e Mezzo.
Grapperia Nardini, Bassano
The original tavern by the Ponte Vecchio, if you are traveling in Veneto.
Affiliate buying links coming soon.
Amaro Nardini FAQ
What is Amaro Nardini?
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A Venetian amaro from Bortolo Nardini in Bassano del Grappa, Italy's oldest grappa distillery (founded 1779). It is built on the house grappa rather than neutral spirit and bottled at 31% ABV.
What does Amaro Nardini taste like?
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Cooling peppermint and eucalyptus over firm gentian and rhubarb bitterness, with orange peel and baking spice. It is notably dry — far less sweet than Averna or Montenegro.
Why does Nardini turn cloudy with ice or water?
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Its high concentration of essential oils, especially mint, comes out of solution when diluted. That louching is a sign of a genuine oil-rich infusion, not a flaw.
What is Mezzo e Mezzo?
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The signature drink of Bassano del Grappa: equal parts Nardini Amaro and Nardini Rosso aperitivo, topped with soda water and served at the Grapperia by the old bridge.
Is Nardini similar to Fernet-Branca?
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They share a dry, mentholated, high-bitterness profile, but Nardini is softer and fruitier thanks to its grappa base, while Fernet is more medicinal and saffron-driven.
How strong is Amaro Nardini?
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31% ABV (62 proof), slightly stronger than most mid-weight Italian amari and typically sold in a 1-liter bottle.
How should I drink Amaro Nardini?
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Neat after dinner, over ice with soda, or in a Mezzo e Mezzo. In cocktails it substitutes well anywhere you'd use Fernet, with a lighter touch.
Where can I buy Amaro Nardini?
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Specialty bottle shops and online spirits retailers in the US and UK carry it for roughly $30–$40 per liter.