Vecchio Amaro Del Capo 70CL

Quite when master distiller Guiseppe Caffo began to make spirits is lost to time, but we know that it’s late 19th Century at the foot of Mount Etna’s bountiful slopes in Sicily. In time Guiseppe moved to then mainland, Limbadi in Calabria and eventually bought Caffo’s distillery in 1915. The site is still used today. Today, the enterprise continues under the careful stewardship of successive generations of the same founding family. 
Amaro del Capo is a wonderful drink best served ice cold, straight from the freezer at -20C.

Tasting Notes

•    Appearance: Clear, burnished coppery amber.
•    Aroma: A fragrant and complex bouquet dominated by fresh orange peel, orange blossom, and wild flowers. Subtler hints of peppermint, aniseed, chamomile, and warm clove follow closely behind.
•    Palate: Beautifully smooth with a syrupy, heavy texture that never feels cloying. It layers an initial honeyed sweetness with vibrant citrus, candied ginger, and cooling mint. This richness is expertly balanced by a grounding earthiness from herbal roots and a gentle touch of bitter quinine.
•    Finish: Long, refreshing, and semi-dry. The intense, chilly herbaceousness lingers on the tongue alongside fading notes of liquorice and mild baking spices.

Description

Vecchio Amaro del Capo is the definitive herbal digestif of Southern Italy. Crafted with an exact selection of 29 distinct botanicals, this aromatic liqueur captures the authentic essence of the Calabrian landscape. It features an approachable yet deeply layered flavour profile that masterfully balances sweet, fruity, and bitter components. It is bottled at a warming 35% ABV in a 70cl bottle size.

Distilling Methods

The production methodology relies heavily on regional agricultural control. Freshly harvested berries, roots, herbs, and flowers are brought to the facility directly from the fields. Every botanical element undergoes maceration and infusion separately at the precise time of its harvest to preserve the peak aromatic oils. After the raw ingredients are infused into fine alcohol, the liquid is carefully distilled and blended to maintain the clean, bright signature flavour profile.

Serving Suggestions

•    The Traditional Frozen Serve: Keep the bottle permanently in the freezer at -20°C. The high alcohol content prevents the liquid from solidifying. At this sub-zero temperature, the texture becomes wonderfully thick and velvety, which softens the sharp bitter edges and forces the bright mint, aniseed, and citrus highlights to explode on the palate. Pour a neat 25ml measure into a pre-chilled shot or liqueur glass immediately after a heavy meal.
•    Calabrian Caffè Corretto: Pour a single shot straight into a piping hot cup of morning espresso to add a sweet, herbal warmth.

Cocktail Suggestions

•    Capo Tonic: Fill a highball glass with large ice cubes. Combine 40ml of Amaro del Capo with 100ml of premium tonic water, and stir gently. Express a squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top and garnish with a lime wheel for a highly refreshing, bittersweet summer aperitif.
•    Mediterranean Amaro Spritz: Add plenty of ice to a large wine glass. Pour in one part Amaro del Capo, two parts well-chilled Prosecco, and a splash of soda water. Garnish with a fresh slice of orange and a slapped sprig of mint.
•    Negroni del Capo: Swap out the traditional sweet vermouth or a portion of the Campari in a classic Negroni format for Amaro del Capo. Stir equal parts gin, Campari, and the amaro over ice, then strain into a rocks glass with a large ice block and an orange twist.

Food Pairings

•    Sweet Pairings: The honey and orange blossom notes in the liqueur make it a sublime match for dark chocolate truffles or cocoa-rich tortes. It also pairs brilliantly with traditional Italian almond pastries, cantucci biscuits, or poured directly over a scoop of vanilla and coffee ice cream.
•    Savoury Pairings: The herbal bitterness cuts beautifully through rich, fatty foods. Try it alongside cured meats like spicy Calabrian nduja, aged salami, or sharp, mature cheeses like Pecorino.