Amaro Averna

Amaro Averna is an Italian liqueur in the Amaro category produced in Caltanissetta, Sicily. It is named after its inventor, Salvatore Averna, who invented the recipe in 1868. This drink is produced on the Island of Sicily and is considered a traditional drink. The Averna company was acquired in 2014 by Gruppo Campari.

In 1802, to a family of drapers, he was born Salvatore Averna. Growing up in Caltanissetta became one of the most active members of the community, justice of the peace and benefactor of the Abbey of the Holy Spirit. Here, according to an ancient tradition born in the fortified Benedictine abbeys and spread to Europe through the Cluniac and Cistercian monasteries, the monks were producing, with their recipe, an elixir of herbs that, despite being "bitter", was pleasant and had, in the beliefs popular, tonic and therapeutic properties. In 1859, as a sign of gratitude, the monks decided to hand over to Salvatore recipe infusion in 1868 and began production for guests at Averna home.

It was Francesco Averna, son of Salvatore, who took the initiative to promote the bitter, participating in various exhibitions in Italy and abroad. During a private visit of King Umberto I, in 1895, the bitter Sicilian was already well known, and Francesco received a gold pin with the House of Savoy insignia. After other successes, in 1912 Vittorio Emanuele III granted the Averna Company to affix the royal crest with the words "Patent of the Royal House" on the label of their liquor. The Company Averna became supplier to the Royal Household. All these awards over the years, led Francesco to redesign the label leading dell'amaro adding all these certificates and prizes. After the untimely death of Francesco, his wife Anna Maria took over the company.

The third generation, Francesco's sons Salvatore, Paolo, Emilio and Michele consolidated the success and contributed to the evolution of the bitter business even through the difficulties of the two world wars, so much so that the company continued production without ever stopping, even finding a way to start an export business in America. In 1958 the Company Averna became a public company (Fratelli Averna S.p.A.) and some years later a new factory was also built.

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