Luxardo Amaro Abano (75cl, 30%)

An Italian herbal amaro from Veneto, crafted from seven botanicals including cardamom, cinnamon and bitter orange peel. The Luxardo family has produced liqueurs since 1821, and Amaro Abano was first introduced in 1952, taking its name from Abano Terme in the Euganean Hills. Production involves maceration and infusion of seven botanicals, including wild herbs from the Euganean Hills, cardamom, cinnamon and bitter orange peel, followed by ageing in oak barrels. The amaro is bottled at 30% ABV. The nose opens with rich espresso and dark chocolate, warm baking spices, gentian root and dried orange zest, with a faint wisp of smoke and lavender. The palate is smooth and velvety, with bitter-orange intensity, dark gingerbread, toffee sweetness, earthy bitterness from condurango bark, cardamom spice and hints of mint. The finish is medium-long, with dried fig, dark chocolate and lingering grapefruit-peel bitterness, plus subtle tannic dryness from the oak ageing.