Rabarbaro Zucca

Rabarbaro Zucca is an Italian amaro that hails from Milan. As evident from its name—rabarbaro stands for rhubarb—the main flavoring is a rhubarb macerate, while other ingredients include a secret blend of herbs, fruit, and spices.

The result is a dark-brown, richly flavored liqueur with a herbal aroma and excellent balance of sweetness and bitterness. While the first part of the name is a reference to the main ingredient, zucca—which stands for pumpkin—is a reference to its inventor Carlo Zucca.

The story says that the drink was inspired by an old family recipe he found on a small hand-written note. He started commercial production in 1919. Rabarbaro Zucca is usually enjoyed as an aperitif. Serve it neat, on the rocks, or topped with tonic or sparkling water.