Sibona Amaro
Origin: Italy / 28% / Price: 10-15€
An often recommended by me insider tip in the amaro segment, because he has an appealingly balanced composition of notes and also special spikes in the direction of kola nut and subtle mint, which makes him work great both in stirred drinks, but also sours (e.g. Amaro Sour). Not quite as sweet and orangy as Averna, Montenegro or the Freimeisterkollektiv, for example, it has more of a hint of fernet character but with less penetrance.
As with so many amari producers, Distilleria Sibona is an old and well-known grappa distillery, many awards (also by their amaro at ISW) have been won in its history.
Nose:
Intense but harmonious, not as dark and gloomy as the St. Maria al Monte for example, but also leaning towards a dark direction, fresh mint, rhubarb, kola nut, dried blood orange, cinchona bark, subtle burnt brown sugar, licorice, very subtly incorporated pleasant gentian (which I'm rather sensitive to).
Taste:
The start is as intense as in the nose, cinchona bark, fresh mint, kola nut, gentian and blood orange, licorice, some chamomile, cumin, sage, lime zest, licorice, oiled leather.
Finish:
Slightly burnt brown sugar, licorice, camphor, gentian, dried citrus, bitterness is well integrated and not too astringent.
