Amaro Nonino Quintessentia is one of the more expensive members ($50) of the Amaro (Italian for bitter) family.
Nonino Quintessentia is somewhat difficult-to-find, yet it is a frequent recommendation of many renowned bartenders - despite the relatively high price point. So, what is so special about this liqueur?
What is Amaro Nonino Quintessentia?
Released in 1992 and named after its inventor, 4th generation distiller Benito Nonino, Amaro Nonino is a bitter liqueur. The base is their famed Grappa, an Italian grape-based pomace Brandy.
This Grappa, made from the freshest pomace, is infused with a large variety of herbs, flowers, barks, and roots - for instance, thyme, bitter orange, gentian root, wormwood, galenga, quassia wood, and saffron. Finally, the Amaro is refined with an aged Nonino Grape Distillate (min 12 months of aging).
What does Amaro Nonino taste like?
The taste of Amaro Nonino is a combination of bitter and sweet flavors from oranges, apricot, vanilla, caramel, and spicy herbal notes. The light sweetness and the addition of aged Grappa create a unique flavor profile. Due to its base, Nonino Quintessentia has a dominant fruity note, setting it apart from other Amari. Here's a summary for a better overview:
- Visual appearance - warm, golden, and almost reddish color with limited viscosity.
- Aroma - Fruity, sweet, and herbal with notes of orange apricot, caramel, spice, and herbs.
- Taste - Bittersweet combination of honey, caramel, orange, gentian roots, saffron, and pepper.
- Overall - Anise-forward, herbal, and fruity with a delicate interplay of bitter and sweet.
The alcohol content of Nonino Amaro
The range of ABV in Amari is wide. It starts at 11% ABV in Aperol and goes up to an alcohol content of 45% in Amaro Mandragola. Amaro Nonino is a comparably boozy liqueur, clocking in at 35% ABV.
Is Amaro Nonino a Digestivo or Aperitivo?
Simply put, Amaro Nonino is both, an Aperitif and a Digestif. Aperitif cocktails are usually low-ABV drinks supposed to increase appetite and stimulate digestion to help prepare our stomach for a scrumptious meal. Digestifs commonly contain more alcohol and have a bolder and more herbal taste.
Served neat, Amaro Nonino is an excellent digestif. If you want to use it as an Aperitif before your meal, mix it in an Amaro Nonino Spritz. Apply the classic ratios of 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Amaro, and one part chilled soda for a delicious, refreshing, and bittersweet Spritz cocktail.
The best substitutes
The flavor variety in Amari is overwhelming. So choosing substitutes isn't the easiest task. When searching for a great alternative to Amaro Nonino Quintessentia, opt for a rather boozy option with a restrained level of sweetness. Two of the best substitutes are Amaro Averna and Amaro Tosolini.
How to drink Amaro Nonino
It is as enjoyable on its own as it is in mixed drinks. Although, the ideal way to serve it according to the brand is neat and at room temperature. This way, you can best taste the flavors of the Grappa base, the bitterness from ingredients like quinine, and the citrusy notes from oranges.
One of the standout features of Nonino Quintessentia is that it pairs herbal complexity with a low amount of sugar and a high alcohol content. That makes it an excellent base for a variety of cocktails.
One great example of this is the Paper Plane cocktail. By replacing the common Aperol with Amaro Nonino, you'll get a bolder, boozier, and more intense interpretation of the traditional recipe. As mentioned, it also works in a Spritz cocktail using the classic ratios of an Aperol Spritz.
How long does it last?
Amaro Nonino lasts forever, so to speak. As a rule of thumb: any liquor above 18% ABV keeps forever - with exceptions. Further, sugar and alcohol increase shelf-life, and Amaro Nonino comes packed with both. Therefore, it won't turn bad when stored in a cool and dry place.
It gets even better. Amari, in general, are infused with a blend of herbs, spices, barks, and more. That means you can let them mature just like other hard liquors. Plus, Amari can even evolve and age in the bottle.
Amaro collectors are often hunting for old bottles as the developed flavors are unlike anything you can not get from new ones.
History of Amaro Nonino Quintessentia
The story of Amaro Nonino Quintessentia begins in Friuli, located in the Northern part of Italy, close to the Slovenian border.
The Nonino distillery was opened in 1897 when Orazio Nonino started to make Grappa Nonino in Ronchi di Percoto. In its early days, his distillery only produced Grappa.
It took until 1933 when Antonio Nonino, son of Orazio, tried to utilize herbs from the Friuli region into an Amaro. He used the Grappa Nonino as a base and infused it with herbs from Carnia.
The result was the first Amaro from Nonino - its name was Amaro Carnia.
More than 50 years later, in 1984, they eventually laid the foundation of today's Amaro Nonino Quintessentia.
Giannola and Benito Nonnino started to develop a grape distillate in honor of their late father, Antonio. The result was a high-quality Grappa that brought the whole product range to a new level.
In 1987, the Nonino brand started to age this high-quality Grappa in small barrique barrels. This matured version is the base of Amaro Nonino as we know it today.
Eventually, in 1992, Amaro Nonino was produced for the first time. And since then, only Grappa that has aged for at least 12 months is used to make it.
The current recipe is based on Antonio Nonino's first Amaro creation from 1933 and makes one of the best-balanced Amaros in the market.
FAQs
One 750ml bottle of the liqueur will cost you $50. Amaro Nonino isn't a cheap option, but it's well worth its price.
Amaro Nonino is a herbal bitter liqueur based on Grappa. It's flavored with a secret blend of herbs, roots, fruits, and spices -refined with a 12-month-aged Grappa called ÙE.
Amaro Nonino is part of the Amaro family. Amari are Italian bittersweet herbal liqueurs that contain between 11% and 45% of ABV.
Amaro Nonino Quintessentia and Campari are not the same, but both belong to the family of Amaro liqueurs. Campari is bright red, contains less alcohol, and has a more pronounced bitter taste.