Cynar 70 cl, 16.5% ABV - Italian Bitter Artichoke Amaro Liqueur

Product Information

A recent tradition, Sicilian pistachio liqueur has already conquered the world. Thanks to its prized and well-known main ingredient, pistachio, this liqueur is one of the most beloved for its sweet taste, creamy texture and low alcohol content. Here is another must-have liqueur from the Sicilian tradition that everyone really likes. Fresh, tasty, perfect for summer, it can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Of course, responsibly, because it has a high alcohol content. Cynar is an intriguing, bittersweet amaro that combines the unlikely (but decidedly delicious) flavours of artichokes and 13 other herbs and plants, resulting in a unique and versatile taste and aroma. It gets its name from cynarine—an active ingredient found in artichokes. For their ads, they placed a famous Italian actor (first Ferruccio De Ceresa, who later changed his name to Ernesto Calindri) in the middle of a busy street. His task was to stop people passing by, then ask them to stop whatever they were doing and have a drink with him instead. The headline for this series of commercials was: "Cynar, against the attrition of modern life."

Just to name one, Limoncello, which is immediately associated with the land of Sicily, home of the juiciest and most beautiful lemons in the world. Yet, there is more than just limoncello. The list is so long that in this article we will mention only a few of them, the best and the most well-known. Wild fennel liqueur is one of those liqueurs that are surprising even from the name, but once tasted give a unique experience and leave an indelible memory. The Bensonhurst is a sophisticated mixed drink that pairs Cynar with the smoothness of bourbon and the sweetness of maraschino liqueur, creating an intriguing flavour profile. Combine 1.5 oz Wild Turkey Bourbon , 0.5 oz maraschino liqueur, 0.5 oz Cynar, and 1 oz Cinzano Vermouth Bianco in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until cool and decant into a chilled serving glass. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry to serve. 9. Cynar Spritz

Sicilian liqueur and amaro: the tradition lives on

Amaro represents for Sicilians an indispensable table pleasure that worthily closes any self-respecting meal by accompanying the palate with grace and elegance. Amari are almost always enjoyed at the end of a meal, as opposed to sweeter liqueurs.

The apéritif became popular during the early 1960s after its appearance on the Italian television advertising show Carosello. The series of commercials, first starring Ferruccio De Ceresa, and from 1966 Ernesto Calindri, showed the actor sipping Cynar while sitting at a table placed in the middle of a busy street, urging consumers to drink Cynar "against the wear-and-tear of modern life". Toward the end of the 1970s, the commercial changed settings and moved from the busy city to a field of artichokes. The partnership between Calindri and the brand lasted until 1984. Sicilian amaro are part of the category of Sicilian liqueurs, but they have (as their name implies) a more bitter and less sugary taste than the liqueurs we have just reviewed. The full recipe of Cynar is closely guarded. That doesn't come as a surprise, considering this is the case for many other Italian liqueurs and Vermouths.Cynar’s name comes from cynarin, an acid found in artichokes that is said to aid digestion — which makes this a great pre- or post-meal quaff. It stands out from the amaro crowd for its unique bittersweet flavor with earthy, savory, and slightly vegetal undertones. But even though there’s a picture of an artichoke boldly emblazoned on the bottle, it certainly doesn’t taste like a liquid artichoke. So where does its distinct flavor come from? That’s a well-kept secret. All we can tell you is that Cynar, which first launched in Italy in 1952, contains 13 herbs and botanicals — one of which, as the world knows, is artichokes. Cynar 101: Getting Started The key element for sure is the artichoke. Not only is the vegetable used for production, but artichoke leaves are also on the label of the bottle. And then artichoke, in Latin Cynara Scolymus, also lends its name to the liqueur. Cynar was born as a digestive, although today it is used as an aperitif and mixed with other spirits, such as white wine. It is a typical Italian liqueur obtained from a mixture of 13 aromatic herbs. What most distinguishes this distillate is the artichoke leaves, which is the main ingredient of the recipe, which give this historic liqueur its unmistakable aroma. Created as a digestive by the Venetian Angelo Dalle Molle in 1948, it is now an integral part of Italian popular culture. Amaro Montenegro Infusion: 13 aromatic herbs and plants are combined with alcohol and water in automatic macerators and continuously mixed to release the aromas and colors. From there, the extract is collected in decanter tanks to rest for at least one month to get the perfect marriage of flavors.