Cappelletti Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro

Trentino, Italy

• Unusual marriage of smokiness and bitter woodsiness
• Made from alpine herbs and the root of Chinese rhubarb
• Pairs beautifully with grapefruit Radler or stout
• Lends depth and character to whiskey cocktails
• Venerable producer of aperitivi and amari in Alto Adige

The producer, which goes by the full name Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti, was first established in 1906. For most of their first century they were located in the historic Piazza Fiera in the center of Trento. Today they are located 20 km south of Trento in Aldeno, surrounded by vineyards and apple orchards. As the name would suggest, the firm was and is still today focused on products from traditional herbs, roots and flowers. They achieved fame in the region for their productions of amari and aperitivi, including the classic red bitter Aperitivo Cappelletti. All production is done in house by the fourth generation of the family, Luigi and Maddalena Cappelletti.

The term Sfumato derives from the Italian word for smoke - ‘fumo’. It is traditionally associated with a style of Renaissance painting characterized by subtle transitions between areas of dark and light. This speaks directly to this amaro’s profile, which marries a dark smokiness with bitter woodsiness from alpine herbs and notes of sweet alpine berries. The main ingredient is a special Rabarbaro (rhubarb) variety that grows in Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto. Enjoy with tonic, grapefruit soda, or whiskey.

The production of a Rabarbaro liqueur by the amari and aperitivi producer Cappelletti dates back almost a century.