Amaro Alpe is a 38% ABV herbal liqueur from Distilleria Alpe, a family-run distillery in Hône, in Italy’s mountainous Aosta Valley. Founded by Armando Calvetti in 1948 and now led by his son Fulvio, the distillery specializes in liqueurs shaped by the botanicals of the surrounding Alps.

More than twenty locally gathered herbs, roots, and flowers go into this bottling. Gentian, mint, rhubarb root, and genepy—a high-altitude member of the Artemisia genus—form part of a recipe closely connected to the region’s alpine landscape. The herbs are harvested in August, dried, and infused with the other botanicals in pure alcohol for approximately one month. Distilleria Alpe uses alcohol made in Italy from wheat, along with water sourced from the surrounding glacial environment.

The production process gives Amaro Alpe an additional point of distinction. After maceration, a portion of the infused liquid is redistilled, a step intended to create a more persistent flavor while clarifying the liqueur’s color. Spring water and sugar are then added before bottling. This combination of extended infusion and partial redistillation sets it apart from a straightforward botanical maceration.

Amaro Alpe offers a compelling introduction to the liqueur traditions of the Aosta Valley, bringing together bitter roots, aromatic mountain herbs, and a production method refined by a distilling family with roots stretching back more than seven decades. For drinkers interested in amaro with a strong sense of place, its high-altitude ingredients and carefully layered preparation make it a particularly intriguing bottle to explore.