ITALY’S BEST DIGESTIVES BY MAURICE TERZINI

Maurice Terzini’s guide to the greatest Italian after-dinner drinks.

Amaro Siciliano Averna
Still made from the same ancient recipe of herbs and roots. This amaro is bitter sweet, and best enjoyed over ice with either lemon or orange.

Amaro Montenegro
A slightly sweet amaro, with a hint of nuts. Best served over ice with an orange slice.

Braulio Amaro Alpino
This digestive is both light in alcohol (21%) and light in flavour. It has pronounced menthol flavours with a refreshing finish. Recommended served over ice.

Cynar
Artichoke leaves and herbs are infused to make this low alcohol digestive. Best served over ice or topped with soda.

Centerba 72 Enrico Toro
Made from a selection of wild aromatic herbs and fine spices, all subjected to long infusion in special containers. Centerba is best sipped neat or added to black coffee.

Amaro Nonino
An aged grappa infused with mountain herbs. With extraordinary fragrances it is best served over ice or straight.

Florio Amaro
A digestive infused with herbs, roots, citrus fruits and spices. The dominant flavour is of Seville Orange Peel. This digestive is best drunk neat.

Rabarbaro Zucca
This is a delicate digestive made from Rhubarb and herbs. Dark in colour and best served over ice.

Fernet Branca
An infusion of over 40 herbs, a classic aged in wooden casks. Best served neat.

Ghentiane Astucciato Ecoforest
This liquor is made from an infusion of the Gentian root. This creates a liquor of great benefit to digestion. It is best served over ice.

Varnelli L’Anice Secco Speciale
A special dry aniseed liquor made using a carefully guarded family recipe. Best served on ice or with a dash of water.

Varnelli Adesso
A liqueur made from anise and coffee. Best served neat, for the ultimate indulgence, serve topped with thickened cream.

Varnelli Amaro Sibilla
This digestive is made from a concoction of herbs and roots, and slightly sweetened with honey. It is best served neat as a digestive.

Varnelli Amaro Tonica
An amaro carefully infused from roots, herbs and honey. This is Varnelli’s benchmark digestive. It is recommended neat; to enjoy all it’s flavours.

Pralina Amaro di Arancio
A liqueur made from an infusion of fruit and selected herbs that stimulates the gastric juices, acting as the perfect tonic. Best served on ice.

Bergamino
The Bergamot is a very rare citrus fruit growing almost only in Italy, perfect for digestion. Made using traditional methods, it is best chilled.