The story behind Caffo
Giuseppe Caffo started distilling pomace near Mount Etna in the late 19th century, and in 1915 he bought his first official distillery in Santa Venerina, Sicily. The family later moved the heart of the operation to Limbadi, in Calabria's Vibo Valentia province, where the flagship distillery still stands. Caffo has been a family house ever since.
What separates these cordials is patience at the front end. Each botanical is harvested at peak ripeness and macerated separately in neutral alcohol before blending, so the bitter orange, licorice, chamomile, anise and peppermint each arrive on their own terms. The flagship amaro carries 29 herbs, flowers, fruits and roots. We have poured these for Long Island customers for years, and the freezer trick still converts skeptics.
Explore the Caffo range
Three Caffo bottles anchor our cordial shelf: a cold anise sipper, a sambuca built for coffee, and the bittersweet Calabrian amaro that started the argument.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffo Anisette 750mL | Anise liqueur | Not stated | Sweet anise, clean finish, classic after-dinner pour |
| Caffo Sambuca Secolare 750mL | Sambuca | Not stated | Licorice richness, syrupy body, coffee companion |
| Caffo Vecchio Amaro 750mL | Amaro | Not stated | Mint, anise, cocoa, bitter orange, serve ice cold |
| Vecchio Amaro del Capo Red Hot Edition | Amaro | 70 | Calabrian chili heat building behind the herbs |
| Vecchio Amaro del Capo 100 Riserva | Amaro riserva | 70 | Aged brandy base, oak, deeper and rounder |
| Caffo Solara Triple Grand Orange | Orange liqueur | 80 | Sweet and bitter orange, built for mixing |
| Caffo Grappa Italiana | Grappa | 80 | Unaged pomace, herbal and floral top notes |
Which Caffo is right for you?
Our Caffo shelf runs $22.99 to $29.99, which is honest money for a house that has been at this since 1915. Caffo Anisette 750mL and Caffo Sambuca Secolare 750mL both sit at $22.99, and Caffo Vecchio Amaro 750mL comes in at $29.99. The premium Riserva and Red Hot editions in the wider portfolio land higher, roughly $28 to $80 depending on the bottle, so ask us what is on the truck this week. Stock moves, and we will tell you straight when a bottle is gone.
Keeps it at minus 4, pours neat after dinner, never adds ice.
Floats it on espresso or sips it neat with a coffee bean.
Wants the old school sweet anise pour at holiday tables.
Caffo cocktails and pairings
Serve the amaro icy cold from the freezer and the anisette at room temperature after the plates clear. Both want sugar and salt on the table.