Meletti

Meletti is an iconic Italian liqueur house founded in Ascoli Piceno in 1894, producing two classics: Anisette (distilled from pure star anise — bright licorice sweetness, smooth finish) and Amaro (bittersweet herbal blend of herbs, spices, and citrus over wine — ideal as a digestivo or in Negroni variations).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Meletti Anisette and standard anise spirits?

Meletti Anisette is distilled from pure star anise (Illicium verum) rather than green anise or synthetic anethole — a meaningful distinction in a category where many producers use lower-cost alternatives. Star anise produces a rounder, more complex licorice character with greater aromatic depth than green anise or artificially flavored anisette. Meletti also uses a sugar base that keeps the liqueur smooth rather than sharp. The result is noticeably more refined than mass-produced anisette brands: less medicinal, more genuinely fruit-forward in the anise sense, with a clean finish that makes it work well both neat and in cocktails where anise flavor is a supporting character (Sazerac, Corpse Reviver No. 2).

What makes Meletti Amaro different from other central Italian amaros?

Meletti Amaro comes from the Marche region — central Italy rather than the more commonly recognized Sicilian, Venetian, or Piedmontese amaro traditions. The bitterness level is moderate: more accessible than intensely bitter northern amaros like Fernet-Branca but with more genuine herbal structure than lighter southern Italian alternatives. The wine base (rather than a neutral spirit base) contributes a vinous softness and additional complexity. Ascoli Piceno’s position in the Apennine foothills provides access to alpine and coastal botanicals that give Meletti Amaro a distinctive geographic character — cardamom, saffron, and dried orange peel alongside the wormwood and gentian common to the category.