Estate grown artichokes and leaves are the main ingredients in this amaro, and are harvested by hand from either our farm in Greer, SC or coming from our family owned farm at Villa Sant'Andrea in Cortona Italy. As of spring 2018, we use exclusively artichokes ( Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus and cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) grown on the farm, just behind the distillery in Greer, South Carolina. Gently spiced and aged in oak in South Carolina, our artichokes create an extremely interesting liqueur. 

Cynarine, the biologically active chemical constituent of artichoke, Cynara cardunculus, is an ester formed from quinic acid (think of the flavors in cinchona bark or coffee beans), and two units of caffeic acid, unrelated to caffeine, (think of the aroma of eucalyptus, thyme, sage and spearmint).

Prepared for the acute enthusiast Vicario Black Labeled Liqueurs indicate the most indispensable ingredients, above all, the ingredient of time to age to perfection.

Artichoke leaves bring a floral, and grassy flavor that dissipates into a persuasive bitterness in this deeply delightful liqueur.

Sweetened with both organic sugar and single nectar Cardoon Honey when the bees on our farm cooperate, this complex amaro may be served as an aperitif on its own or with soda, but has a deep, determined place with cocktails.