Located in the Marche region of Italy, Varnelli is a fourth-generation family distillery currently run by four women: Elda, Gigliola, Mari, and Orietta. Amaro Sibilla was originally made in 1868 by Girolamo Varnelli, an herbalist studying local medicinal plants who sought to create an elixir with antimalarial and fever-reducing properties. A variety of herbs, roots, and barks are prepared over a wood fire before being sweetened with honey. The mixture is then aged and decanted until the amaro reaches a balance of bitterness along with some sweetness from the honey. Deep brown in color with aromas of chestnut, walnut husk, vanilla, and coffee with a long finish, rich finish tempered by fairly intense but balanced bitterness.