The 7 Best Substitutes for Amaro Nonino

Amaro is a very specific type of liquor that is not always easy to find. The Amaro Nonino is an especially tasty and unique type, and it is also one of the most expensive versions in existence today.

Whether you can’t get your hands on a bottle, don’t want to spend a fortune on one type of liquor, or are in a pinch and desperately need some, luckily there are plenty of substitutes to choose from.

So what are the best substitutes for Amaro Nonino?

We recommend that you try to find a replacement within the same category, Amaro. The best in this category are the Amaro Averna, the Amar Meletti or the Amaro Tosolini. If you still can’t find any of these substitutes, try Cynar or Cynar 70, Gammel Dansk, Vermouth, Chartreuse, Bonal Gentaine Quina, or Angostura Bitters.

In today’s article, we will examine the many substitutes available for the Amaro Nonino. We won’t just talk about what they are, but their different flavor profiles, why they are good substitutes, and how they can be used.

What is Amaro Nonino?

The Amaro Nonino is a type of Italian amaro. Amaro means “little bitter” in Italian, which perfectly describes this type of liquor.

Other types of amaro (also sometimes called Amari) are Aperol, Averna, and Campari. The main difference between these and Amaro Nonino is the way each is made, its flavor, and also its availability and price.

Amaro Nonino is made with grappa and is infused with various herbs, botanicals, and even fruits .  This creates a beautiful, very complex sweet and sour flavor profile.

Many people notice fruity flavors, such as citrus and mango. The most prominent spice flavors featured are pepper, allspice, and licorice (possibly from fennel or star anise).

Other flavors that are often noted are honey , caramel, vanilla, and cocoa.

Amaro Nonino is unique in that it has much more interesting flavors than other similar spirits, and also has a less sweet profile.

You will also see that it has a significantly higher ABV (alcohol by volume) percentage than other amaros. While the Aperol has an ABV of 11%, the Amaro Nonino tops out at roughly 35%.

The biggest drawback is that Amaro Nonino is incredibly hard to find, and even if you do find it, it can be quite expensive.

The 7 Best Substitutes for Amaro Nonino

Now that you have a better understanding of what this liquor is, you can more easily choose substitutes based on the flavors you want to substitute.

So, for example, if you want to substitute the citrus flavors of the Amaro Nonino, you can choose a substitute that also has citrus flavors. If you want to substitute spicy flavors, look for a pepper-based liqueur.

So, without further ado, here is our list of the 7 Best Substitutes for Amaro Nonino Liqueur!

1. Alternative Amaro Liqueurs

Before any other substitute, we strongly recommend that you use an alternative Amaro or Amari liqueur. 

Just as you would substitute one whiskey for another before picking up a red wine, the same principle applies here. All Amaro liqueurs, despite having differences, are produced in similar shapes and styles and have similar flavors.

However, there are quite a few varieties to choose from, so we recommend using Amaro Averna, Amar Meletti or Amaro Tosolini. 

It could be said that the Amaro Averna is the most similar in taste and other characteristics. Like the Amaro Nonino, it has strong citrus flavors and hints of caramel. It also has less prominent notes of herbs and spices.

In general, Amaro Averna is much sweeter, has a thicker syrup consistency, and a lower alcohol percentage of 29%.

All these are factors that must be taken into account when using it as a substitute; however, you can use a 1:1 ratio to start with.

The Amaro Meletti closely resembles the spice and caramel flavors of the Amaro Nonino. It also has a strong herbaceous bitterness. The Amaro Meletti also has a very high percentage of alcohol, approximately 32%.

Last but not least, the Amaro Tosolini also has very noticeable citrus flavors along with that unique Amaro Nonino bitterness.

However, Amaro Tosolini has a very dark amber and burgundy color that can affect the appearance of certain products you are making.

2.cynar

The Cynar is another type of Italian Amaro; however, we have not included it in the category of substitutes mentioned above.

This is mainly because it differs quite a bit from the aforementioned Amaro.

Cynar is made from 13 different herbs and plants. One of the most outstanding plants, which constitutes most of the flavors, is the artichoke; surprising, right?

But despite this, it doesn’t taste like an artichoke at all. It has definite orange flavors and also hints of dark chocolate.

Cynar only has an alcohol percentage of 16.5% and has a very dark brown color.

If you are looking for an alternative to regular Cynar, you can use Cynar 70. Cynar 70 has a much higher alcohol proof, which means it has a lot more flavor.

It has much deeper and darker flavors than the original Cynar liqueur. These flavors are similar to dark chocolate and coffee with hints of orange.

3. Gammel Dansk

Gammel Dansk is an extremely popular Danish bitter, made with some 29 different herbs and spices. It is an incredibly fragrant and complex liqueur that works as a great substitute for Amaro Nonino.

Some of the standout flavors featured are cinnamon, star anise (similar to licorice), ginger, and Seville orange.

Although very spicy and bitter, it still has slightly sweet and fruity notes, making it a great substitute for Amaro Nonino.

This liqueur has a light golden brown color very similar to Amaro Nonino, which means it won’t change the color of your cocktails or baked goods much, if at all.

4. Vermouth

In fairness, vermouth isn’t necessarily the closest substitute for Amaro Nonino. However, it is very easy to find and affordable compared to many of the other substitutes.

Although vermouth is a wine-based liqueur (while Amaro Nonino is grain-based), it still has very similar flavors that can easily be substituted. Among them are strong citrus flavors and spices like star anise and allspice.

There are many different types of vermouth, so take a good look at the ingredients used in your particular bottle or brand.

The main forms of citrus used are the peels of orange, lemon, lime, and even grapefruit.

The most used herbs are juniper, oregano, lavender, ginger, flowers and sage. The most prominent spices are star anise and allspice, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla.

As you can see, there are many flavor similarities between these two liqueurs.

5.Chartreuse

Chartreuse is another more common and well-known alcohol that will be an easier substitute to find. It is a French liqueur that also comes in a variety of flavors and even colors.

Chartreuse, regardless of type, has a very complex flavor profile consisting of tons of herbs, plants, and other spices. Compared to Amaro Nonino, it has a spicier, earthier flavor profile and is less bitter.

The two main varieties are the Green Chartreuse and the Yellow Chartreuse.

Green Chartreuse has a much higher alcoholic strength of 110 (which translates to 55% ABV). It is much tastier and more aromatic than yellow Chartreuse.

Green Chartreuse is made from around 130 different herbs, spices and plants.

The yellow Chartreuse only has a proof of 80 (40% ABV) , which is still higher than that of the Amaro Nonino. It has a milder flavor and much sweeter notes compared to green Chartreuse.

Whichever you choose, be sure to account for the intense flavors, color difference, and alcohol percentage when substituting.

6. Bonal Gentaine Quina

This liquor also has a fortified wine base. This base has been heavily infused with herbs and spices, creating a much more complex flavor profile.

Bonal also includes quina, which gives this liquor a very bitter taste, similar to vermouth and most types of Amari.

It has a very burnt olive-brown color that can affect the color of the final product.

It has very similar flavors to Amaro Nonino, such as licorice and citrus . The biggest difference is the intense cherry flavor it has, which the Amaro Nonino does not.

However, many people, including us, continue to like this substitute.

7. Angostura Bitters

Many people know this product. This bitter is very popular for many mixed drinks, not just cocktails.

It is a highly concentrated alcoholic liquid made primarily from herbs . This means that you only need a few drops to achieve a very powerful and concentrated flavor. It has an alcohol percentage of about 44.7%, making it extremely high.

The most similar flavors between Amaro Nonino and Angostura bitters are those of clove and cinnamon, which are closely related to star anise, pepper and allspice.