Are you interested in making a specialized Italian cocktail, but finding yourself perplexed when it comes to an appropriate amaro to finish your creations?
Amaro Meletti is a very popular choice due to its unique and slightly bitter flavor profile.
If you don’t have access to Amaro Meletti, there are some great alternatives as well.
Finding appropriate substitutes for Amaro Meletti can be key when crafting the perfect beverage.
Whether you are looking for something smoother or something with more spices, knowing how to substitute and what options you have can open up a whole new world of delicious drinks.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Amaro Meletti
Here’s a detailed comparison of the 5 best substitutes for Amaro Meletti, along with their key characteristics and proper ratios:
| Substitute | Key Characteristics | Proper Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Amaro Averna | Rich and full-bodied with a balanced blend of herbs, spices, and citrus notes. | Use the same amount as Amaro Meletti |
| Amaro Nonino Quintessentia | Smooth and elegant with a slightly bitter taste and hints of honey and dried fruits. | Use the same amount as Amaro Meletti |
| Amaro Lucano | Herbal and aromatic with a bittersweet flavor profile and a touch of caramel. | Use the same amount as Amaro Meletti |
| Amaro CioCiaro | Complex and intensely flavored with notes of orange peel, dried fruit, and spices. | Use the same amount as Amaro Meletti |
| Ramazzotti | Classic Italian amaro with a balanced taste of herbs, roots, and botanicals, with a hint of sweetness. | Use the same amount as Amaro Meletti |
Now let’s explore each substitute in more detail:
1 – Amaro Averna
Amaro Averna is an Italian liqueur with dark, sweet flavors that make it a suitable substitute for Amaro Meletti.
It has a deep amber color and contains extracts of herbs, cherry bark, licorice and citrus.
Its flavor profile is slightly tart with notes of caramel and chocolate, making it an excellent substitute in cocktails calling for Amaro Meletti.
2 – Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is a product of the Nonino family, made with a combination of grapes from Friuli and Cognac eaux-de-vie aged for 15 years.
It was created to honor their daughter Antonella on her 15th birthday.
The deep and full-bodied amaro has a sweet and sour taste, well balanced with a velvet smooth texture and notes of herbs, caramel, chocolate, and orange.
Its ABV is 30% which makes it one of the milder amari out there in terms of alcoholic content.
A great Amaro Meletti substitute if you’re looking for something milder in flavor.
3 – Amaro Lucano
Amaro Lucano is a liqueur from the southern Italian region of Basilicata made with more than 30 different herbs and spices, including anise, fennel, Centaurea, rhubarb, absinthe and gentian.
The flavor is herbal and slightly bitter with a medium-sweet finish.
Depending on the combination of botanicals used in each bottle, it can have hints of citrus or fruit.
The drink was created in 1894 by brothers Pasquale and Elisa Vena in Lucania (now called Basilicata).
The name “Lucano” refers to this region and also to the strong belief that the medicinal properties of its ingredients could help people maintain good health and vitality.
Amaro Lucano has been awarded many prestigious awards in Italy over the years.
It is served chilled as an aperitif or as a digestive after dinner.
It may also be used as an ingredient in cocktails or other beverages.
4 – Amaro CioCiaro
Amaro CioCiaro is a unique Italian digestive amaro with an intense flavor profile.
Complex and bitter-sweet, it’s made from sun-dried herbs, roots, spices and flavors such as gentian root, clove and sage.
Its deep ruby red color comes from the added bonal, a type of liqueur that helps give the drink its distinct inviting taste.
It’s excellent served neat or in cocktails and pairs well with many traditional Italian dishes like spiedini (skewered meats) or asiago cheese.
If you can’t find Amaro Meletti but you still want to experience the complex taste of CioCiaro, here are the five best substitutes:
- Averna.
- Ramazzotti.
- Cynar.
- Amaretto di Saronno.
- Aromatizzato Stravecchio Duca Potenza.
5 – Ramazzotti
Amaro Ramazzotti is a bitter Italian liqueur made from 33 herbs.
It has an intense aroma, a deep amber color with gold highlights, and a pleasantly sweet taste.
Its secret formula of spices such as star anise, coriander and rhubarb has been kept in the same family since 1815.
Amaro Ramazzotti is typically served as an after dinner digestif but can also be used to create delicious cocktails such as the Rosita – a blend of Tequila, fresh lime juice and Amaro Ramazzotti served on the rocks with a twist of orange peel – or the White Negroni – Gin, Vermouth Bianco and Amaro Ramazzotti with a slice of orange.
The 5 BEST Substitutes for Amaro Meletti
Ingredients
- 1 – Amaro Averna
- 2 – Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
- 3 – Amaro Lucano
- 4 – Amaro CioCiaro
- 5 – Ramazzotti
Instructions
- Choose your preferred substitute from the list of options.
- Organize all of your ingredients.
- Use the proper substitute to cook your recipes.
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