Ingredients
Averna's recipe came from the Benedictine abbey of Santo Spirito in Caltanissetta and remains secret. It is built on an infusion of Mediterranean herbs, roots and citrus rinds — bitter orange, lemon and Sicilian citrus peel are the clearest markers — sweetened with caramel and sugar syrup, which gives the amaro its dark color and its cola-and-toffee character.
- ✦Bitter orange peel
- ✦Sweet orange peel
- ✦Lemon peel
- ✦Pomegranate
- ✦Myrtle
- ✦Juniper
- ✦Rosemary
- ✦Licorice root
- ✦Gentian root
- ✦Anise
- ✦Caramel
History of the Brand
In 1868 the monks of the Santo Spirito abbey in Caltanissetta gave their herbal elixir recipe to Salvatore Averna, a textile merchant and benefactor of the monastery. He began producing it commercially, and the label still shows the abbey connection.
His son Francesco took it national, winning medals at Italian expositions and, in 1912, the right to display the royal warrant of the House of Savoy — a mark that appears on the bottle to this day.
For more than a century Averna stayed a family business in Caltanissetta, becoming a symbol of Sicilian hospitality alongside its role as the island's default after-dinner pour.
Campari Group bought the brand in 2014 and kept production in Sicily. Averna Riserva Don Salvatore, a richer barrel-influenced expression, followed for drinkers who wanted more depth.
Tasting Characteristics
Burnt caramel and cola first, then dried orange peel, licorice and a faint resinous herbal edge.
Velvety and sweet: toffee, raisin, orange marmalade and anise, with the bitterness arriving late and softly, more like dark chocolate than gentian.
Medium-long and warming, with cola, licorice root and a clean herbal bitterness that keeps it from cloying.
Flavor meter
How to serve it
- 01Neat after dinner with a square of dark chocolate — the classic Sicilian pairing.
- 02Over a large ice cube with an orange twist.
- 03In an Averna Sour, where lemon cuts the caramel sweetness perfectly.
- 04As the amaro in a Black Manhattan or Boulevardier variation.
- 05Long with soda and lemon for a light, cola-ish highball.
Where to Get It
One of the most widely distributed amari in the world and a reliable first bottle. Nearly every bottle shop and cocktail bar stocks it.
Local bottle shops
Almost always available at $25–$32 for a 750ml.
Online spirits retailers
Universally listed; look for Riserva Don Salvatore for a richer version.
Italian restaurants
A standard house digestivo, and an easy way to taste before buying.
Affiliate buying links coming soon.
Amaro Averna FAQ
What is Amaro Averna?
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A Sicilian amaro produced in Caltanissetta since 1868, based on a herbal elixir recipe from the Benedictine abbey of Santo Spirito. It is bottled at 29% ABV and sweetened with caramel, giving it its dark color and toffee character.
What does Averna taste like?
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Rich caramel and cola, dried orange peel, licorice and raisin, with soft bitterness arriving at the end. It is one of the sweeter, rounder classic amari.
Averna or Montenegro — which should I buy first?
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Montenegro is lighter, floral and citrus-driven; Averna is heavier, sweeter and more caramel-led. If you like vanilla and dried fruit, start with Averna; if you prefer bright orange blossom, start with Montenegro.
How do you drink Averna?
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Neat after dinner, ideally with dark chocolate, or over a large ice cube with orange. In cocktails it shines in the Averna Sour and as a stand-in for sweet vermouth in whiskey drinks.
What is Averna Riserva Don Salvatore?
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A richer, more concentrated expression of Averna with additional cask influence, aimed at drinkers who want more depth and spice than the standard bottling.