Zucca Rabarbaro Amaro 700ML

Zucca Rabarbaro Amaro 700ML is a rhubarb-based Italian amaro bottled at 30% ABV (60 proof) in a 700ml format. Awarded 93 points by the Beverage Testing Institute and a Double Gold at the Bartender Spirits Awards, this Milanese bitter stands apart for its use of dried, smoked Chinese rhubarb root sourced from China's Gansu province — a botanical choice that gives it a deeply earthy, faintly asphalt-like smokiness unlike any other amaro on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 30%  |  Origin: Milan, Italy  |  Style: Rabarbaro (Rhubarb) Amaro  |  Producer: ILLVA Saronno Holding S.p.A.

Production & Heritage

Zucca has been synonymous with rhubarb amaro since its founding in Milan. The brand is now produced under the ownership of ILLVA Saronno Holding S.p.A., the Italian spirits group perhaps best known for Disaronno. What distinguishes this expression from other amari is its primary botanical: Rheum palmatum, a species of Chinese rhubarb specifically sourced from the Gansu province. The root is dried and smoked before infusion, a step that introduces the distinctive asphalt-like, lightly campfire quality that defines the liquid. Supporting botanicals include bitter orange peel, cardamom, and a proprietary blend of herbs, resulting in a layered bitter that bridges the gap between classic Italian digestivo tradition and something altogether more primal.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a sweet, slightly medicinal character — dried rhubarb root and dark molasses leading into bitter orange peel and a faint wisp of smoke. Underneath, cardamom spice and a suggestion of aniseed add aromatic depth.

Taste: The entry is brightly bitter, with tart rhubarb asserting itself immediately before thick, cola-like molasses flavors take over at mid-palate. As it develops, notes of burnt toffee, bitter bark, zesty orange, and dark chocolate emerge, all held together by a medium-to-full body that coats the mouth generously.

Finish: Long and dry, with lingering smoky sweetness, gentle herbal spice, and a persistent rhubarb bitterness that slowly fades into a faint licorice note. The finish rewards patience — the smokiness intensifies as the sweetness recedes.

How to Drink Zucca Rabarbaro

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the most direct way to experience the interplay between smoke, rhubarb bitterness, and molasses sweetness. A splash of cold soda water opens up the aromatics without diluting the body significantly.

• Rabarbaro Spritz: Zucca's smoky depth transforms the classic spritz into something darker and more complex than a standard Aperol version.
• Black Manhattan: Substituted for sweet vermouth or used alongside it, the amaro's burnt toffee and bitter bark notes pair beautifully with rye whiskey and Angostura bitters.
• Paper Plane (variation): Replacing the standard amaro with Zucca introduces a smoky backbone that adds a new dimension to this modern classic's citrus-and-bitter balance.

Best For

• Amaro collectors seeking a benchmark rabarbaro expression
• After-dinner sipping as a standalone digestivo
• Bartenders building smoky, complex cocktail menus
• Gifting an Italian spirits enthusiast something beyond the usual Campari or Aperol

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Zucca Rabarbaro taste like? Zucca Rabarbaro delivers a brightly bitter rhubarb character layered with burnt toffee, cola, bitter bark, and a distinctive smokiness derived from its dried, smoked Chinese rhubarb root. The body is medium-to-full with a long, dry finish.

How does Zucca Rabarbaro compare to Cappelletti Sfumato? Zucca is the sweeter and smoother of the two major rhubarb amari widely available, with more prominent molasses and toffee notes. Cappelletti Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro leans more aggressively woodsy and drier, with less residual sweetness.

Is Zucca Rabarbaro good for cocktails? Its smoky complexity and medium sweetness make it exceptionally versatile behind the bar, working in stirred drinks like Manhattans and Negroni riffs as well as longer serves like spritzes. The 30% ABV integrates easily without overpowering other ingredients.

Where is Zucca Rabarbaro made? Zucca Rabarbaro is produced in Milan, Italy, by ILLVA Saronno Holding S.p.A. The key botanical, Chinese rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum), is specifically sourced from the Gansu province of China.

What foods pair well with Zucca Rabarbaro? Dark chocolate desserts benefit from the amaro's smoky bitterness cutting through sweetness. Aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano mirror its savory depth. Roasted pork belly with a fruit glaze finds balance with the rhubarb's tartness. Grilled stone fruits such as peaches or plums echo the caramelized citrus notes. Coffee-based desserts like tiramisu complement the molasses and licorice undertones.

What sizes does Zucca Rabarbaro come in? The standard widely available format is the 700ml bottle, though a 750ml size may also be found depending on market.

Is Zucca Rabarbaro worth the price? Zucca positions as a mid-range amaro that punches above its price tier in terms of complexity and critical recognition, including 93 points from the Beverage Testing Institute and a Double Gold at the Bartender Spirits Awards.

Why Zucca Rabarbaro?

The smoked Chinese rhubarb root from Gansu province is the single detail that separates Zucca from every other amaro on the shelf — no European-grown rhubarb delivers the same earthy, medicinal, faintly asphalt-tinged complexity. That smoking step before infusion is not a common practice in amaro production, and it gives the liquid a flavor signature that has earned it both a 93-point rating from the Beverage Testing Institute and a Double Gold at the Bartender Spirits Awards. For bartenders, the combination of moderate sweetness, pronounced bitterness, and smoke makes it one of the most cocktail-friendly amari available. For sippers, it represents a category unto itself — unmistakably Italian in tradition, yet entirely singular in flavor.