Averna is a popular Italian bitter digestif that was named after its inventor Salvatore Averna who created it in 1868. Some sources state that the recipe was handed to the Avernas by a monk of the local San Spirito monastery. The exact ingredient list remains the Averna family secret, but this bittersweet liqueur is said to be made with more than 60 different herbs, roots, pomegranate, and the essential oils of bitter Sicilian lemons.

Though Averna is typically enjoyed on its own, served on the rocks or neat, it can also be used for various cocktails.

Amaro is a potent digestif with a silky, sometimes even syrupy structure that originated in the 1800s. It is traditionally produced by macerating several herbs, flowers, aromatic bark, citrus peels, and spices in alcohol, either spirits or wine.

The blend is then mulled with sugar syrup before being put to age. Although the Italian word amaro translates to bitter, the flavors of this herbal liqueur are complex and may range from earthy and bitter to syrupy and almost sweet, depending on its age and ingredients used in the blend. 

Lucano is an Italian amaro that is flavored with more than 30 botanicals. Some of them are familiar such as wormwood, sage, gentiana, angelica, bitter orange, and ruta, but the exact composition and the recipe remain secret. The resulting drink is clear, with an appealing mahogany color.

The flavor is bittersweet and herbaceous, with some spiciness. The aromas are citrusy and herbal, with hints of spices. It is bottled at 28% ABV. Amaro is best served neat, preferably well chilled, or on the rocks. It is usually enjoyed as a digestif, but it also works well in cocktails and mixed drinks. 

Bràulio is an Italian amaro that was created in 1875 by Francesco Peloni, a chemist from Bormio who was an expert in medicinal herbs from the alpine Valtellina region. Although the recipe and the exact ingredients are kept secret, it is known that the drink is made with the infusion of various herbs, roots, plants from Valtellina such as gentian root, wormwood, juniper berries, and achillea.

The botanicals are dried and ground before they are added to the alcohol infusion. Springwater and sugar are added, and the filtered blend is left to mature for two years in Slavonian oak. The process results in a balanced, amber-colored amaro that is subtly bitter, herbaceous, and earthy, with hints of sweetness and spiciness. 

Montenegro is a popular Italian liqueur and a type of amaro that has been produced in Bologna since 1885. It is made with 40 botanicals sourced from four continents, and it remains one of the most popular and best-selling amari in Italy.

The production process is complex and includes several techniques, and though the exact botanical blend remains secret, some of the ingredients include oranges, wormwood, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The liqueur is amber-colored, with a rich, bittersweet flavor.

It has intense aromas reminiscent of citrus, herbs, and spices, along with licorice and chocolate nuances. Montenegro works best as a pre- or post-dinner aperitif. It can be incorporated into cocktails and long drinks. 

Alchermes is an ancient Italian liqueur based on a combination of rosewater and orange blossom water, sugar, herbs, and spices, while the typical red hue was traditionally imparted with the addition of crushed cochineal insects. It is believed that the liqueur was invented by the Sisters of the Order of Santa Maria dei Servi in Florence.

Nowadays, several brands are available on the market, and most of them list artificially derived dye that gives the drink its distinctive red color. The subtly spicy Alchermes can be enjoyed as a digestif, but it is also commonly used in the preparation of sweets, out of which the most popular are pesche di Prato and zuppa Inglese—a trifle-like Italian dessert, as well as its corresponding zuppa Inglese gelato flavor.

Amaro Nonino is a type of amaro made with aged grappa and a macerate that includes various botanicals. The combination is aged for a minimum of five years in Nevers, Limousin, and ex-sherry oak. The resulting drink has a warm amber color.

The aroma is dominated by orange zest and complimented by apricots, toffee, subtle baking spices, and some herbal hints. The flavor is bittersweet, with jammy and spicy notes and a long, mellow finish. Although it is a rather novel Italian amaro—it was introduced in 1992—this herbal liqueur is produced by the Nonino family, who have been in the drink business since the late 19th century and have been perfecting their amaro recipe since the 1930s. 

This Italian amaro was first produced in 1815, and it is still made according to the original secret recipe that employs 33 different herbs and roots. The recipe was developed by Ausano Ramazzotti, who offered the drink at his café, located in the vicinity of Milanese La Scala. Ramazzotti is an intense, medium bitter digestif that is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, preferably with the addition of lemon twist.

Apart from the original version it also comes as Ramazzotti Menta, Black, and Limone.

This aniseed-flavored liqueur is made with a clear spirit and usually a secret combination of herbs and spices that further elevate its flavor. Luigi Manzi was the first to commercially produce sambuca in Civitavecchia, in the mid-1800s.

The drink was later popularized by the brand Molinari, a name which is today almost synonymous with sambuca. This aniseed liqueur comes in numerous varieties that use a different combination of flavorings, but the light-bodied white version is still the most popular option.

Sambuca can be served neat, on the rocks, or blended with water. It is also used in caffè corretto, an Italian beverage that combines a shot of espresso and a small amount of sambuca.