From Sparrow’s amaro list, the Sibona Amaro is a classic Italian after-dinner pour, a bittersweet sipper that feels right at home in our Juanita neighborhood lounge ($10 by the pour, or $15 for a larger pour).
About Sibona Amaro
Sibona Amaro comes from Distilleria Sibona, one of the oldest distilleries in Piedmont, Italy, a region long known for its grappa and herbal liqueurs. The recipe is a traditional Piedmontese one, a bittersweet blend of 34 herbs and spices that includes gentian, cinchona, rhubarb, wormwood, clove, and cardamom. The infusion process is deliberately slow, drawing out maximum flavor from the botanicals so the finished amaro is rounded rather than harsh. Like most amari, it began life as the kind of herbal tonic Italian families made for digestion, and over the years it became a beloved part of the daily aperitivo and digestivo ritual.
Tasting Notes
This is amaro the way Piedmont does it, intense but balanced, with an aromatic bouquet of spice, dried herbs, and citrus over a gentle bitter backbone. The gentian and cinchona bring the signature bitterness, while clove, cardamom, and rhubarb add warmth and depth. It is bittersweet rather than punishing, with a smooth, lingering finish that makes it easy to sip slowly.
What to Pair It With
Amaro shines as an aperitivo before dinner or a digestivo after. Enjoy it neat or over a large cube in our 21+ lounge once the plates are cleared, or pour it alongside an espresso for the full Italian wind-down. If you would rather have it with food, it plays nicely with the richer dishes from the Sparrow dinner menu, like the Sparrow-Smoked Rack or the Truffle Deviled Eggs. Catch our daily happy hour from 3 to 5 PM, and settle in on the four-season patio if the weather is kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sibona Amaro?
It is an Italian amaro from Distilleria Sibona, one of the oldest distilleries in Piedmont. It is a bittersweet blend of 34 herbs and spices, including gentian, cinchona, rhubarb, wormwood, clove, and cardamom, slowly infused for maximum flavor.
How much is a pour of Sibona Amaro at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland it is $10 by the pour, or $15 for a larger pour. You will find it on our amaro list, perfect as an after-dinner digestivo.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Wilderton Aperitif NA. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come sip it after dinner.