From Sparrow’s amaro list, Brucato Chaparral is a New World amaro that captures the herbal, coastal character of California ($9 by the pour, or $13.50 for a larger pour).
About Brucato Chaparral
Brucato is a small San Francisco amaro producer founded by Sierra and James Clark, who set out to make Italian-style amari using the botanicals and produce of California. The brand is named for John Brucato, who founded the San Francisco Farmers Market in 1943. Each Brucato amaro is built around a specific California landscape, and Chaparral is their tribute to the state’s coastal scrublands. It leans on yerba santa, a native California herb with a distinct bittersweet flavor long valued by herbalists, along with bay, spearmint, and cardamom. The result is an amaro that tastes like its home rather than an imitation of an Italian original.
Tasting Notes
Chaparral is bright and aromatic, with the herbal, slightly resinous lift of yerba santa and bay leading into cool spearmint and warm cardamom spice. It is bittersweet and refreshing, more green and herbal than dark, which makes it versatile across the meal.
What to Pair It With
This herbal style works beautifully as an aperitivo before dinner or as a lighter digestivo after. Sip it over ice, build it into a spritz, or enjoy it with bright shareables from the Sparrow menu like the Burrata Avocado or the Spring Arugula Salad. It is a great pour on our four-season patio, and our daily happy hour from 3 to 5 PM is an easy time to try it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brucato Chaparral?
Brucato Chaparral is a California amaro made in San Francisco, built around native botanicals like yerba santa, bay, spearmint, and cardamom to reflect the state’s coastal chaparral landscape.
How much is a pour of Brucato Chaparral at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, Brucato Chaparral is $9 by the pour, or $13.50 for a larger pour.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Brucato Orchards and the Brucato Woodlands. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come taste it.