Across the Table: In Italy, amaro is the bitter end

I remember my first encounter with amaro, the Italian bitter liqueur. It was the first time I went to Italy and had overindulged the night before. "Drink it. You'll feel better," my Italian friends urged, handing me a glass of Fernet Branca for its supposed digestive properties. The thick, viscous and extremely bitter liqueur could be enough to put you off the stuff forever. "It's like swallowing a spoonful of VapoRub," Mozza general manager David Rosoff describes it, laughing. I can't disagree.

By S. Irene Virbila

February 23, 2013