Country of origin: Italy
Alcohol content: 23% ABV

Amaro Montenegro’s tale began over 130 years ago with a rather unusual twist. Stanislao Cobianchi was a noble citizen of Bologna, destined for an ecclesial career; when one day, he went against his parents’ wishes and left home in the spirit of adventure.

He traveled with unashamed irreverence, learning, exploring and most importantly, tasting all that the world had to offer. His journey took him to the Balkans, where he experienced a vibrant melting pot of cultures and ideas. He returned to his hometown filled with inspiration, opening a distillery and pioneering an amaro that perfectly balances bitter and sweet flavors. Making a grand gesture, Stanislao dedicated the name to Princess Elena of Montenegro. The distinctive bottle soon appeared in bars, cafes and homes across Italy.

Amaro Montenegro quickly became a cultural icon with legendary Italian Poet Gabriele D’Annunzio famously calling it the “liqueur of virtues.” The delicious amaro could barely keep up with demand, expanding to a new distillery in 1906. Production briefly stopped during WWII, but quickly resumed thereafter.

Today, Montenegro is Italy’s #1 amaro and continues to grow in popularity around the world. It is especially beloved by mixologists and connoisseurs for its transformative versatility. A whole new breed of Montenegro-infused cocktails are being crafted and shared at even the most distinguished of bars – each one with our very own, unique twist.

While mixology trends have changed, Stanislao’s recipe and process have remained the same since 1885. 40 herbs and spices are macerated for up to 30 days while an extract is created in boiling water. It is then distilled to capture the most aromatic portion, ensuring a wide range of bittersweet flavors including orange peel, coriander and tea. The separate parts are mixed together with water from Italy’s Gran Sasso Mountains, a liquid renowned for freshness and clarity. The amaro, however, is not complete until one last ingredient is added — an ingredient so secret only a handful of people in the world can name it. Lastly, the precious liquid enters the same iconic bottle Stanislao created over 130 years ago – a testament of timelessness and style.

The result of this innovative process is a smooth, bittersweet and delicious amaro that can only go by the name Amaro Montenegro.