Let us share with you the origins,
recipes and rituals of Averna.
Since 1868, Amaro Averna has represented true Sicilian craft with a story rooted in heritage and tradition.
Its recipe transmits the flavors and aromas of the land it comes from
and has become a staple in every Italian home, passed down from generation to generation.
The secret recipe was crafted in the early nineteenth century by the Benedictine monks of Abbazia Di Santo Spirito. They produced a liqueur that told the unique aromas and flavors of the land through Mediterranean herbs and a typical contrast of sweet and bitter flavors.
In 1868, the recipe was gifted by the monk Frà Girolamo to the textile merchant Salvatore Averna as a token of gratitude for his commitment to the local community. He began producing it in his family farmhouse for guests in Xiboli. By the early 1900s, the recipe and business were passed to Salvatore’s son, Francesco Averna, who spread the word at fairs in Italy and abroad.
It was during a visit to King Umberto I in 1895 that Francesco was gifted a golden brooch with the Savoy House emblem to mark the drink’s ever growing status in Italy. In 1912, Vittorio Emanuele III bestowed Averna the right to print the royal coat of arms with the inscription “Royal Household Patent” on its bottle.
The 1920s was a difficult period, but in between two wars, Averna came at the hands of a woman. Francesco’s wife, Anna Maria, took the reigns of the business, who, along with her children, Salvatore, Paolo, Emilio and Michele, continued to expand the brand, reaching the American market. In 1958, Averna became a corporation (Fratelli Averna S.p.A.).
In 1978, Averna became a leader in the Italian market and a constant presence in Italian households. By the 90s, it gained further worldwide recognition, reaching more distant markets, such as the USA. In 2014, Fratelli Averna S.p.A’s group was bought by Gruppo Campari, strengthening its global portfolio and consolidating its leadership status in the category.
Averna has a mouth-coating and bittersweet taste, carrying hints of orange and licorice, balanced with notes of myrtle, juniper berries, rosemary, and sage. It stimulates the senses, instantly transporting you to the island, and making Averna not just an amaro, but an authentic Sicilian experience.
Averna - the authentic Italian after-dinner amaro is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the launch of the first ever aged edition, Averna Riserva Don Salvatore.
The ancient Averna recipe is aged in small selected oak casks for 18 months, producing a mature liquid and rich Mediterranean bouquet inspired by Don Salvatore Averna,
who received the secret recipe as a gift from Frà Girolamo, a Benedictine monk of Caltanissetta, Sicily, 150 years ago.
The production of Averna Riserva Don Salvatore is a closely guarded secret that begins with combining herbs, roots and natural spices with aromas and fragrances of Sicilian citrus. Its sophisticated blend of subtle flavors leave a smooth after-taste that enhance the overall quality experience.
An enchanting mixture of wooden scents blend with touches of spices and dried fruits, including fig, berries, plums and a hint of liquorice. All ingredients, including essential oils from lemon and bitter orange peels, pomegranate, herbs and fruits, are selected with care and infused with pure alcohol.
Mixed with water to bring it to the right alcohol content, it is then filtered and mixed with additional natural ingredients such as sugar, alcohol, burnt sugar and water. The product is then left inside oak barrique barrels in a cellar for 18 months until all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
A wait that is nothing but worth.