What can I use instead of Averna Amaro? The best substitutes for Averna Amaro are other bitter Italian liqueurs or amari, like Ramazzotti, Lucano, Meletti, Montenegro, Nonino, Aperol, Campari, Cynar, or Strega. Angostura Bitters is a low-alcohol alternative, while Chinotto is alcohol-free.
Averna is a bitter Italian liqueur or amaro, which was first produced as a herbal elixir in the 1800s by Benedictine monks. In 1868, Salvatore Averna started manufacturing it commercially.
This thick, dark-brown amaro has a slightly sweet, herbaceous flavor, making it a popular digestif and cocktail ingredient. Here are the 11 best substitutes for Averna Amaro.
The Best Averna Amaro Substitutes
Ramazzotti
Ramazzotti, another popular Italian bitter liqueur, is the best substitute for Averna Amaro.
Ramazotti, first made in 1815, has a less bitter flavor than other amari. A botanically-based beverage, Ramazotti contains kola nut, oranges, cinnamon, and star anise, giving it a pleasant yet subtly spicy licorice flavor.
Although the flavor profiles of Ramazotti and Averna differ slightly, their comparatively sweet caramel notes and thick consistency are similar.
Ramazotti is, therefore, an ideal substitute as a digestif, sipped neat, on the rocks, with a splash of soda, or as a low-alcohol cocktail component.
Replace Averna Amaro with an equal amount of Ramazotti.
Amaro Lucano
Another Italian amaro you can use instead of Amaro Averna is Amaro Lucano.
This intensely herbaceous liqueur contains more than 30 botanicals, including aloe, angelica, elderflower, gentian, yarrow, sage, wormwood, and bitter orange peel, giving it a robust bitterness.
Made since 1894, Amaro Lucano is delightfully spicy and herbal.
Amaro Lucano makes an ideal substitute for Averna Amaro, having a similar viscosity. Use it as a replacement in cocktails or neat as a digestif.
The flavor difference between the two becomes more pronounced when Amaro Lucano is served on the rocks.
Use Lucano as a 1:1 replacement for Averna, especially if you enjoy a bitter flavor.
Amaro Meletti
A third armaro that can replace Amaro Averna is Amaro Meletti.
Slightly higher in alcohol content than other amari, Amaro Meletti’s bitter herbal flavor is tempered with hints of caramel from the kola nut it contains. You’ll also pick up chocolate and saffron, rather than fruitiness.
Enjoy Amaro Meletti instead of Amaro Averna on the rocks as an aperitif or digestif, as the flavors are close. This beverage also works well in cocktails with rum and citrus flavors, particularly blood orange.
Use the same amount of Meletti as you would Averna.
Amaro Montenegro
To replace Amaro Averna, you can reach for Amara Montenegro, an Italian favorite.
This bitter herbal liqueur dates back to 1885 and contains more than 40 different herbs and spices, including cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, marjoram, and orange peel.
Montenegro is a rusty orange color with an intense citrus freshness. There are herbal and bitter notes, but Montenegro has a deep sweetness, similar to Averna.
Lower in alcohol than other amari, Montenegro is a perfect substitute for Amaro Averna in cocktails, especially fruity ones. It also makes a delicious spritzer but works well neat.
Replace Averna Amaro with similar proportions of Amaro Montenegro.
Amaro Nonino
Amaro Nonino is a bittersweet amaro and makes a tasty alternative to Amaro Averna.
With a grappa base, Amaro Nonino packs a 35% ABV, having been barrel-aged for a year. Botanical ingredients include bitter orange, saffron, wormwood, and thyme, giving the herbal liqueur a citrus-forward flavor.
Although Amaro Nonino has sweet caramel notes, it lacks the spicy nuances of Averna.
However, it makes an excellent replacement for Averna, especially for fans of wine. The grape flavor is appealing, especially when sipped neat.
Enjoy Nonino in the same quantities as Averna, but be aware that it does contain more alcohol.
Aperol
One of the best-known bitter liqueurs, Aperol is readily available and thus a convenient substitute for Averna Amaro.
Created as a low-alcohol amaro in 1919, Aperol has been popular ever since. It contains bitter orange, gentian, rhubarb, and the healing herb cinchona and is recognizable by its distinct orange color.
Aperol’s most popular application is in the Aperol Spritz, where the herbal liqueur combines with sparkling Prosecco and soda water.
Use Aperol as an Averna substitute, especially for new drinkers of bitter liqueurs – it is less tart than most and has an appealing orange flavor. Aperol is delicious on ice or with soda.
Aperol can replace Averna in similar quantities.
Campari
Another internationally renowned Italian bitter that can substitute for Averna Amaro is Campari.
This beverage was created in 1860 by Gaspare Campari, who named it Bitter Uso Campari. Today, Campari sells three million cases annually and is a worldwide favorite.
Although the same vivid red-orange color as Aperol, Campari has a decided bitterness and a rich orange and grapefruit flavor.
Campari is a good alternative for Averna Amaro if you’re making cocktails.
Replace it in Averna-based cocktails or make well-known Campari cocktails like the Americano, which contains sweet vermouth to temper the sharpness, as well as a refreshing dash of soda.
Other popular cocktails are the Negroni and Junglebird.
You can also enjoy Campari both as an aperitif and a digestif.
Replace Averna with similar quantities of Campari, but be aware that it lacks the caramel sweetness of Averna Amaro.
Cynar
Cynar, one of the newer brands of amari, makes an exciting substitute for Averna Amaro.
Based on the artichoke, which has the Latin name Cynara scolymus, Cynar is seriously tart. You can’t taste the vegetable specifically in the herbaceousness.
Cynar’s flavor profile is nuanced, with hints of orange, chocolate, and cinnamon.
Cynar is comparable to the well-known German liqueur, Jägermeister, with a similarly high proof.
You can use cola-brown Cynar instead of Averna Amaro in cocktails – it is popularly drunk in the Berlioni, a version of the Negroni. It works well in any cocktail that calls for Italian bitters and makes a tasty spritz.
Replace Averna Amaro with Cynar in similar amounts, with the proviso that it is far higher in alcohol and lacks Averna’s luscious sweetness.
Strega
Enjoy Strega as an alternative to Averna Amaro.
The name “Strega” is Italian for witch, a name that gives you an idea of how strongly alcoholic and powerfully flavored this amaro is.
Strega contains around 70 botanicals, giving it an intensely spicy flavor. The saffron punch makes the liqueur deep yellow, while you’ll also taste cinnamon and juniper along with the harsh bitterness.
As an alternative to Averna Amaro, Strega is a bold choice. This liqueur is best drunk neat or on the rocks as a digestif, but it’s not for beginners. Work your way up to this fierce beverage.
If you’re not used to it, start with a tiny tot of Strega.
Angostura Bitters
For a low-alcohol alternative to Amaro Averna, use Angostura Bitters.
Angostura Bitters is a highly concentrated herbal alcohol, created as a digestive aid but now produced in Trinidad and Tobago as a food and beverage flavoring.
Although the bitter liqueur is 44% alcohol, it is never drunk neat or even on the rocks.
Instead, Angostura Bitters is essential for any mixologist, as it is used in a wide range of cocktails and beverages, including the Old Fashioned, with whiskey, and the Manhatten, with whiskey and vermouth.
Angostura Bitters can substitute the flavor of Amaro Averna, but you only need a few drops to infuse the drink with sharpness.
Chinotto
An alcohol-free alternative to Amaro Averna is Chinotto.
Chinotto is an Italian cola made from the myrtle-leafed orange tree, with a dark caramel color and a bittersweet citrus flavor. Although similar to Coca-Cola, it is far less sweet.
Use Chinotto instead of any amari in mocktails or as a refreshing beverage.
Chinotto contains caffeine, so it is not ideal for small children.