Varnelli Amaro Sibilla (1L, 34%)

Varnelli Amaro Sibilla is an Italian amaro from the Marche region, made since 1868 by Distilleria Varnelli. It is bottled at 34% ABV in a 1 litre bottle. It begins as a decoction of wood-burning gentian and other medicinal mountain plants, sweetened with honey from the Sibillini Mountains, then long decanted and finished on cloth before bottling. The house was founded in 1868 and remains family-run. On the nose there are strong bitter herbs and dried fruit, chestnuts, walnut husk, coffee and honey. The palate opens with honeyed sweetness, then an intense, bitter, tannic grip with chestnut, dried fruit, vanilla and coffee. The finish is long and bitter with lingering honey and dried fruit.