Amaro Lucano

Amaro Lucano traces its roots to 1894, when Pasquale Vena, a confectioner in Pisticci in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, developed a herbal liqueur from a secret blend of botanicals. The recipe drew on the region's aromatic Mediterranean flora and proved popular enough to attract the patronage of the Royal House of Savoy. The company stayed in the Vena family, and today fourth-generation members oversee operations from Pisticci Scalo.

The alcoholic amaro became a genuine Italian institution. A long-running advertising campaign in the 1980s and 90s gave the brand national reach, and in 2021 the Italian government awarded it the status of Historical Trademark of National Interest. The recipe remains a closely guarded secret, believed to contain around 30 herbs and botanicals.

The Zero is their alcohol-free take on the original. It uses the same botanical framework as the classic amaro: bitter herbs, citrus, rosemary, chamomile, myrtle. The result is a dark orange liquid with a genuinely amaro-like character, running from herbal and citrusy on the nose to bitter-sweet on the palate. It sits comfortably in cocktails or over ice as a long drink.

In the UK, Lucano Zero is available through specialist drinks retailers including The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt. It's a useful option for anyone building a drinks cabinet that works for non-drinkers, particularly where something bitter and complex is needed rather than a fruit-led aperitif. Packaging is fully recyclable, which the brand has made a point of.

The Collection

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