AMARO AFICIONADO
Grappa-Based Amaro

Amaro Tosolini

Friuli's grappa-based amaro — darker and more bitter than its famous neighbour.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Northeast ItalyAmaro Tosolini1943
Producer
Bepi Tosolini
Where it's made
Povoletto, near Udine · Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Northeast Italy
Founded
1943
Strength
30% ABV
Aging
Rested in oak after infusion
Typical price
$30–$40 / 750ml
Style
Grappa-Based Amaro
Flavor profile
Rooty and dark with a warm grappa backbone

Ingredients

Alpine and Mediterranean botanicals infused into Tosolini's own grappa, then rested in wood. The grappa base gives the same silky weight as Nonino but the herb bill is darker, with more root and less orange.

  • Gentian root
  • Rhubarb
  • Bitter orange peel
  • Mint
  • Liquorice
  • Alpine herbs of Friuli
  • Grappa base

History of the Brand

Bepi Tosolini founded his distillery near Udine in 1943 and built a reputation for grappa distilled in small copper stills over a wood fire.

The family later applied that base spirit to an amaro, following the northeastern tradition that also produced Nonino across the region.

Three generations on, the distillery is still family-run and still uses the original method for its grappa.

The amaro remains far less known abroad than Nonino, which makes it one of the better value grappa-based bottles for anyone who likes that style.

Tasting Characteristics

Nose

Dried herbs, gentian, orange peel and a grapey spirit note.

Palate

Firm root bitterness, mint and liquorice, moderate sweetness, silky grappa weight.

Finish

Long, warming, bitter-sweet.

Flavor meter

Bitter
7/10
Sweet
5/10
Herbal
8/10
Citrus
4/10
Spice
5/10
Body
7/10

How to serve it

  • 01Neat at room temperature after dinner — the Friulian default.
  • 02In a Paper Plane for a drier, more bitter version.
  • 03Over ice with an orange twist.
  • 04In a Black Manhattan.
  • 05As a corretto in strong coffee.

Where to Get It

Good availability wherever Tosolini grappa is sold; less common than Nonino but usually cheaper.

Specialty bottle shops

Look in the grappa section as well as the amaro shelf.

Online spirits retailers

Search 'Bepi Tosolini Amaro'.

Friuli

Standard in bars around Udine and Trieste.

Affiliate buying links coming soon.

Amaro Tosolini FAQ

What is Amaro Tosolini?

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A grappa-based amaro made by Bepi Tosolini near Udine in Friuli, infused with alpine and Mediterranean botanicals and rested in oak at 30% ABV.

How does Tosolini compare to Nonino?

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Both use a grappa base, but Tosolini is darker, rootier and more bitter, where Nonino is lighter and orange-and-caramel driven.

What does Amaro Tosolini taste like?

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Gentian and rhubarb root with mint and liquorice, moderate sweetness, and the silky warmth of the grappa base.

Is Tosolini good in cocktails?

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Yes — it makes a drier Paper Plane and works well in stirred whiskey drinks like a Black Manhattan.

Is Amaro Tosolini cheaper than Nonino?

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Usually. It is far less famous abroad, which makes it strong value for the grappa-based style.