Nonino Amaro is one of the more elegant bottles on the back bar at Camp West in West Seattle. Made by the Nonino family in Friuli, Italy, this grappa-based amaro is prized by bartenders for its balance of bittersweet herbs and bright citrus. It is the kind of pour we love to recommend after dinner in our cabin-inspired room: complex, refined, and a smooth introduction to the world of Italian amari.
About the Producer
The Nonino family in Friuli-Venezia Giulia is best known for its high-quality grappa. Their flagship amaro, Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, is built not on a neutral spirit but on the family’s own ÙE grape distillate, aged in oak barriques. That base is infused with a botanical blend that includes gentian, licorice, and orange, then bottled at 35% ABV, higher than many amari. The result is a distinctly elegant, grape-forward take on the style.
Style & Flavor
Amaro is a category of Italian bittersweet herbal liqueur, usually enjoyed as a digestif. Nonino’s version stands out for its grappa-derived base, which gives it a rounder, fruitier depth than grain- or neutral-spirit amari. It reads more refined and citrus-driven than heavily bitter.
Tasting Notes
Look for aromas of orange peel, dried herbs, and a touch of caramel from the oak-aged base. The palate is silky and bittersweet, with notes of citrus, gentle herbal bitterness, and a whisper of vanilla. The finish is long, warming, and elegantly bitter.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
Our Nonino Amaro pour is $14. We love it the classic way, served neat as a digestif after a meal, ideally at cool room temperature. It is also lovely over a large cube with an orange twist, or stirred into a sophisticated amaro cocktail. Tell your bartender how you like it and we will pour accordingly.
FAQ
What makes Nonino Amaro different from other amari? It is built on the Nonino family’s grape distillate rather than a neutral spirit, which gives it a rounder, more elegant and citrus-forward character.
How should I drink amaro? Amaro is traditionally enjoyed neat as a digestif after a meal, though many people also like it over ice with a citrus twist or in cocktails.
Pull up a seat at Camp West in the West Seattle Junction. Book a table, browse our full liqueurs & amari list, or explore the complete beverage menu.