Among the liqueurs of the Amalfi Coast there is a dark one, fragrant with coffee and spices, that many people have never heard of. It is Concerto, and we discovered it while climbing the valleys towards Tramonti, far from the crowded beaches. Here is its story.
A rosolio from the mountains of Tramonti
Concerto is a rosolio, a sweet liqueur, with an alcohol content of around 30 degrees. It was born in Tramonti, the green municipality in the hinterland of the Coast, and from there it spread throughout the Amalfi Coast, in the province of Salerno. The Campania Region has included it in its list of traditional agri-food products (PAT), among the liqueurs, under the name liquore concerto.
According to the tradition recorded by the Region, it was invented by the monks of the convent of San Francesco in Tramonti. The name comes from the "concert" of herbs and spices that go into it, all together like the instruments of an orchestra. We loved finding out that for a long time it was sold mainly in the local pharmacies, which still guard its combinations.
The herbs, the spices and the coffee
The regional listing mentions around 15 herbs and spices. Among them are:
- liquorice and wild fennel;
- cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon;
- mountain herbs such as calamint.
The syrup, on the other hand, is made with water, sugar and toasted, ground barley and coffee, sometimes with the addition of orange and lemon peel. It is the barley and coffee that give Concerto its dark colour and the taste that sets it apart from the other liqueurs of the Coast.
How it is made
The herbs and spices are left to steep in alcohol for about forty days. They are then filtered and combined with the syrup, which is boiled until it reaches the right density. After bottling, the liqueur must rest for at least two months before it is drunk. The result is a smooth, complex liqueur that we find perfect as a digestif.
Where to taste it and what is nearby
Look for it in Tramonti and in Maiori, which the Region names as its historic places of sale, and in the artisan workshops of the Coast. From Tramonti, head down to the sea by way of Ravello and stop at Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. For another liqueur from the area read Lemon cream liqueur or cremoncello, and for the perfect sweet try Sospiri al limone. You will find all the region's protected products in our guide to Campania's DOP and IGP products, and the province in Salerno and its surroundings.
Sources: Campania Region, PAT entry “Liquore concerto”; Campania Region, PAT list of drinks and liqueurs.
Top photo (Tramonti): Maria Rosaria Sannino, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.