Liquorice Caffo: the world's first pure Calabrian liquorice liqueur
Liquorice by Distilleria F.lli Caffo is the world's first liqueur made from pure Calabrian liquorice, bottled at 27% vol. in 500 ml. It is produced by hot-water extraction of Liquirizia di Calabria DOP root (a minimum of 40% of the recipe), with no colourings or chemical additives. The result is a deep, balsamic digestif with sweet liquorice on the palate, hints of vanilla and a gently bitter finish, ideal served ice-cold or in signature mixology.
What liquorice liqueur is
Liquorice has been prized around the Mediterranean for over 2,000 years as a digestive root. For centuries it reached the bar only as a supporting note alongside anise or bitter herbs. In the mid-1990s Caffo turned that idea on its head, presenting the first liqueur built around liquorice alone: a clean, single-ingredient expression that has since become a reference for the category.
The origin: Liquirizia di Calabria DOP
The heart of this liqueur is the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra grown in Calabria, the only liquorice in Europe to hold the DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) mark since 2011. Calabrian liquorice is renowned worldwide for its purity and intensity: roughly 500 g of fresh root are needed to obtain the juice for a single litre of liqueur, extracted with hot water in the traditional way, without solvents.
The producer: Distilleria F.lli Caffo
The Caffo family has been distilling since 1915, when master distiller Giuseppe Caffo took over a distillery on the slopes of Mount Etna; the dynasty's roots in grape-pomace distillation reach back to the late 1800s. The historic headquarters is today in Limbadi, in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria. The same house is known internationally for Amaro del Capo, and Liquorice stands among its most distinctive creations.
Tasting profile
On the nose, intense sweet liquorice. On the palate it is vibrant and bright up front, with liquorice, vanilla and a touch of dark maple, moving to a long balsamic finish with a clean bitter echo. The 27% vol. keeps it smooth and approachable rather than aggressive, which is what makes it equally suited to the glass and to the shaker.
Professional uses
- Digestif: serve neat, ice-cold at 4-6 degrees C in a small tumbler at the end of the meal; a 3-4 cl pour per guest.
- Mixology: build a liquorice Black Russian (4 cl vodka, 2 cl Liquorice) or a liquorice sour; it also lifts espresso martinis and dark long drinks.
- Pastry and dessert: fold into dark-chocolate ganache, panna cotta or semifreddo for a balsamic note; a 2 cl splash per portion.
- Coffee bar: a few drops over an espresso or in a caffe corretto for a southern-Italian twist.
- Plating: reduce lightly to glaze pears, figs or aged cheeses on a tasting board.
Pairings
Liquorice partners naturally with dark chocolate, coffee, aged and blue cheeses, and dried figs. On the bar it sits alongside vodka, rum and gin; on the dessert trolley it complements vanilla, hazelnut and citrus. Explore the LAPA range of Italian liqueurs, amari and grappa to round out your after-dinner and digestif list.
Delivery and logistics
B2B and B2C delivery throughout Switzerland from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). Direct distribution across Zurich, Winterthur, Uster, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen, Aargau, Lucerne, Zug, Bern and Basel. For Ticino (Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno), French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Sion), Valais and mountain regions (Davos, St. Moritz, Chur) shipping within 24-48 hours via partner couriers (Swiss Post, Planzer, Galliker, Camion Transport). As a shelf-stable spirit it needs no cold chain and is ideal for stocking up. Service tailored for restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, bars, delicatessens, Italian grocery stores and private customers passionate about Italian cuisine.
Who it is for
A pour for restaurants, trattorias, hotels, cocktail bars and caffes that want an authentic, distinctive Italian digestif, as well as for pastry labs and home enthusiasts. Order Liquorice Caffo from LAPA and bring the first liqueur of pure Calabrian liquorice to your tasting menu.
