Amaro Nonino is an Italian bittersweet liqueur from the Nonino distillery in Friuli, built on a grappa base and flavored with herbs and botanicals. It is gentle for an amaro, with orange peel, caramel and warm spice, and it works neat after dinner or in a cocktail such as the Paper Plane. CBC Liquors in Westford carries two bottles from the maker, Nonino Amaro and Nonino Riserva Amaro.
What is amaro Nonino?
Amaro means bitter in Italian, and an amaro is a liqueur made by steeping herbs, roots, citrus peel and spices in alcohol, then sweetening and resting the result. Amaro Nonino is one of the best known examples. It comes from the Nonino family of Friuli in northeast Italy, a house better known for grappa.
That grappa background is what sets it apart. Many amari start from a neutral spirit. Nonino uses a grappa base, which is distilled from the skins and pressings left over from winemaking, and that gives the liqueur a rounder, slightly fruity backbone.
You can see everything the maker produces on the Nonino brand page. If you only want the amaro, the two bottles to look for are Nonino Amaro and Nonino Riserva Amaro.
What does amaro Nonino taste like?
If you have avoided amaro because you expected something harsh, this is a good place to start. Amaro Nonino leads with sweetness and orange peel, then moves into caramel, honey and baking spice. The bitterness is there, but it comes late and stays soft rather than sharp.
Expect a lightly herbal note under the citrus, and a warm, slightly woody finish. The grappa base adds a faint grape-like roundness that you do not get from amari built on neutral spirit.
Compared with a heavily bitter amaro, it is lighter in the mouth and easier to sip. That is why bartenders reach for it when a recipe needs bitterness without letting it take over the glass.
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What is the difference between Nonino Amaro and Nonino Riserva?
The two bottles come from the same maker and share the same character, but they are not the same liqueur. Riserva is the aged version, rested in barrel for longer, and the extra time shows in the glass.
In general, barrel time brings in oak, vanilla and a deeper, rounder body, and it tends to smooth the edges of the herbs and bitter notes. Riserva is the one many people prefer for slow sipping, where the extra depth has room to show.
The standard Nonino Amaro is the more flexible of the two for mixing, since its brighter citrus comes through in a shaken or stirred drink. If you are buying one bottle for the bar cart, that is the usual choice. If you already know you like it, Nonino Riserva Amaro is a natural next step.
How do you drink amaro Nonino?
Italians traditionally serve amaro as a digestivo, a small pour after a meal. You can do the same at home: pour a measure into a small glass and drink it neat at room temperature, slowly, with the meal behind you.
A few other easy ways to serve it:
Over a large ice cube, which softens the sweetness and brings out the orange. With a twist of orange or lemon peel expressed over the top, which lifts the citrus notes. With a splash of soda water for a longer, lighter drink.
Treat it as a sipping liqueur. It is 35 percent alcohol by volume, so a small pour is the point, and it suits an unhurried end to an evening.
Which cocktails use amaro Nonino?
The one most people know is the Paper Plane, created in the 2000s and now a modern classic. It is built from equal parts bourbon, Aperol, amaro Nonino and fresh lemon juice, shaken hard and strained into a chilled coupe. It tastes bittersweet, bright and a little smoky from the whiskey.
Nonino also works in drinks that would normally use sweet vermouth or another amaro. Swap it into a Manhattan-style drink with rye or bourbon, and you get a rounder, more orange-leaning result. It also pairs well with aged spirits in a stirred, spirit-forward glass, where the herbal notes sit alongside oak.
For the whiskey side of these drinks, browse the bourbon and rye shelves. Both styles suit Nonino well: bourbon for sweetness and vanilla, rye for spice.
What else do you need for a Paper Plane at home?
Beyond the amaro, you need a bourbon you enjoy, an Italian bitter aperitif in the style of Aperol, and a fresh lemon. Use fresh juice, not bottled, since the lemon carries a lot of the balance in a drink with this few ingredients.
A shaker, a strainer and a chilled coupe or small glass are the only gear required. Measure each ingredient equally, shake with ice until the shaker is cold, and strain. Adjust the next one to taste, with a touch more lemon if you want it sharper or a touch more amaro if you want it deeper.
If you are building a home bar more broadly, the liqueur section is where amari, aperitifs and other after-dinner bottles sit, and our mixers selection covers soda and other additions for longer drinks.
How should you store amaro Nonino once it is open?
Amari are sturdy because of their alcohol and sugar. Keep the bottle upright, closed tightly, in a cool, dark cupboard away from the stove or a sunny windowsill. A refrigerator is not required.
Over a long time an open bottle can slowly lose some of its brighter citrus and aromatic notes, so it is best enjoyed within a reasonable stretch after opening rather than left for years. If you drink it only occasionally, a smaller pour each time and a firmly sealed cap is the simplest habit.
The same applies to Riserva. Because it is the more contemplative bottle, many people keep it for sipping and save the standard bottle for cocktails.
Where can you buy amaro Nonino in Westford?
CBC Liquors is at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, and we carry both Nonino Amaro and Nonino Riserva Amaro. Our shop is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
You can walk in, order for pickup during those same hours, or have it delivered. Delivery runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. We also offer shipping. See the delivery areas page for the towns we serve, including Chelmsford, Acton and Lowell.
If you are exploring Italian liqueurs and want a hand choosing, ask at the counter. We stock 4,624 products across 1,893 brands, and our Google rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 339 reviews.
Common questions
Is amaro Nonino very bitter?
No. It is one of the gentler amari, led by orange peel, caramel and spice, with a soft bitterness that arrives late.
What is amaro Nonino made from?
It is a bittersweet Italian liqueur from the Nonino distillery in Friuli, made on a grappa base and flavored with herbs and botanicals.
What is the difference between Nonino Amaro and Riserva?
Riserva is the aged version, rested longer in barrel, which generally adds oak, vanilla and a rounder body.
Do you serve amaro Nonino cold or at room temperature?
Either works. Neat at room temperature is traditional after a meal, and a large ice cube softens the sweetness.
Which cocktail is amaro Nonino best known for?
The Paper Plane, made with equal parts bourbon, Aperol, amaro Nonino and fresh lemon juice.
Does CBC Liquors carry amaro Nonino?
Yes. We carry Nonino Amaro and Nonino Riserva Amaro at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, available for walk-in, pickup, delivery or shipping.
