Product: Averna Amaro: Make Sure You Have a Mixer Handy for this Sicilian Liqueur Producer: Fratelli Averna S.p.A Approximate Retail Value: $25.99 for 750ml Category: Liqueur Country of Origin: Sicily Reviewer: Jon Costantino The F Words: Flavor – Licorice, cinnamon, vanilla. Feel – Not as smooth as it smells. Finish – Too much aftertaste.

Rating:

When I first tried Averna Amaro, I was expecting more of an anisette-flavored licorice drink that reminded me of what the men used to drink in my family while the women washed the dishes. What I ended up getting was a slightly tastier version, but still too much of an alcohol aftertaste to make the drink truly refreshing unless you put it in a cocktail.

I first wanted to try it on the rocks so see how much flavor it had on its own. One thing that made me really look forward to trying it was the smell. There is a hint of cinnamon that dulls what could have been too much licorice. There is also a little bit of vanilla in there, too. Honestly, if they could turn this scent into an aftershave, I would recommend it to every guy on a night out. But once I got to the taste, it was a different story.  It’s not sweet enough to be swallowed smoothly, and it’s too harsh to be enjoyed like a scotch. And the aftertaste stays with you a little longer than it should.

The next test was to see how well it mixed. Most of the recommended recipes used lemon juice, so I tried it with lemon soda. Now, it was something totally different. The citrus flavor of the lemon soda brought out the vanilla flavor and made it more like a flowery mojito (that’s not a bad thing).  But there is still the problem with the aftertaste. Long after the smell of lemon-lime is gone, and the hints of herbs have left your lips, you can still feel the alcohol in your throat.  I’m afraid that the lingering taste might affect the rest of the drink you might be having the rest of the night.

For years, it was considered an after-dinner drink, or a digestive after a hearty meal. But I would definitely not recommend Averna Amaro as either. There are almost too many flavors to help one’s stomach truly settle.  If you are the adventurous type, make sure your bartender makes your Amaro cocktail ¾ mixers and ¼ alcohol. But if you want a safer bet, just sniff the one someone else orders. Some drinks are better taken in through the nose than down the throat. Or you can always splash some behind your ears and maybe you’ll get lucky.