Amaro Roger 70CL

Vecchio Magazzino Dogonale means Old Customs Warehouse in Italian.

Giacomo, great-great grandfather of current owner Ivano Trombino ran a small, rural warehouse in Consenza, Calabria from the 1850’s that sold farm produce, agricultural goods and crucially, smuggled spirits. In 1871, three English sailors, tired of life at sea arrived and worked here for decades. Their names were Jefferson, Roger and Gil and these are names of some of Vecchio’s finest creations. Legend has it that the Englishmen began distilling here and a long tradition of locally produced spirits was born.  

The details of this story are lost to time, but what isn’t under dispute is the incredible quality of Vecchio’s drinks. It’s good country in Consenza with a broad range of local botanicals from sun drenched coastal plains to high altitude mountain terroir and these have enabled Vecchio to produce a fine and varied range of wonderful spirits. Our suggestion? Try them all!

Tasting Notes

Amaro Roger is a striking, unfiltered bitter liqueur with a deep red colour and a characteristically cloudy appearance. It immediately delivers a powerful, counterbalancing aroma of intense citrus and sharp gentian root. On the palate, this is an uncompromising, thoroughbred extra-strong bitter. It possesses a robustly masculine profile featuring pronounced notes of bitter orange peel and rustic Calabrian botanicals. This bitterness is supported by an earthy, resinous complexity that leaves a remarkably long, dry, and clean herbal finish.
 
Product Description

Crafted as an exceptional, premium expression of southern Italian identity, this sophisticated bitter is presented in a 70 cl bottle and carries an alcohol content of 25% ABV.

The bottle proudly carries the distinctive notice "Tenere Sotto Banco" (keep under the counter), emphasizing its exclusive, artisanal nature. In order to preserve the authentic texture and full integrity of its hand-selected botanicals, the liquid is deliberately left unfiltered and contains no artificial dyes, undergoing a rudimentary clarifying process using only traditional linen towels.
 
Distilling Methods

The artisanal production method focuses on meticulous, separate botanical infusions. Hand-harvested Calabrian citrus fruits, including bitter and sweet oranges, alongside locally gathered rosemary, oregano, and wild gentian root, are macerated in a high-quality grain spirit.
 
Serving Suggestions & Cocktail Pairings

•    Neat or On the Rocks: Savour this spirit neat at room temperature or over large blocks of ice with an expressed twist of fresh orange peel. This simple serve beautifully highlights its heavy botanical layers.
•    The Perfect Bitter & Tonic: Pour a generous measure over plenty of ice, top with a premium, crisp tonic water, and garnish with a sprig of rosemary. The natural quinine in the tonic water effortlessly balances the deep, bittersweet qualities of the liqueur.
•    In Mixology (The Black Manhattan Variant): Replace standard sweet vermouth with Amaro Roger in a stirred rye whiskey cocktail. The extra gentian bitterness and citrus depth elevate the dark, spicy grain notes of the whiskey.

Food Matchings

•    ** savoury Aperitivo:** Pair a chilled pour alongside salty, cured meats such as Calabrian 'nduja or spicy salami, aged Pecorino cheese, and marinated green olives. The high bitterness cuts right through the richness of the fats.
•    Desserts: This liqueur acts as a spectacular partner to dark chocolate tarts, cocoa-dusted truffles, or traditional Italian cantucci biscuits, where its bitter orange profile complements the deep roasted notes of chocolate and nuts.