If you want one bottle to start with, I would reach for DISPENSE AMARO. It is a British amaro with an English Pinot Noir base, a drier feel, and about half the sugar of a standard amaro. It also took a Great Taste 3-star award, a level given to fewer than 2% of entries.
British bitter liqueurs are growing fast. The category is up by about 18% a year, and 41% of UK drinkers say they would rather drink less and spend more on quality. In this guide, I look at the main bottles through the points that matter most: bitterness, sweetness, ABV, flavour, price, and how each one drinks.
You do have other routes to take. ASTERLEY ORIGINAL is the lighter aperitivo-style option. Amaro Santoni gives you a sweeter, more classic amaro shape. BRITTANNICA London Fernet is the driest and most bitter pour of the set.
- Best all-rounder: DISPENSE AMARO
- Best for lighter spritz-style serves: ASTERLEY ORIGINAL
- Best for sweeter after-dinner drinking: Amaro Santoni
- Best for a drier, firmer bitter profile: BRITTANNICA London Fernet
Quick Comparison
British Amaro Comparison: Bitterness, Sweetness & Best Use Guide
| Bottle | Style | Sweetness | Bitterness | ABV | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISPENSE AMARO | British amaro | Low | Firm | 26% | Sipping, tonic, soda, Negronis, gifting |
| ASTERLEY ORIGINAL | British aperitivo | Medium-low | Gentle | Not stated in the source | Spritzes, aperitivo serves, easy mixing |
| Amaro Santoni | Sweeter amaro | Higher | Medium | Not stated in the source | After-dinner sipping |
| BRITTANNICA London Fernet | Fernet-style bitter liqueur | Low | High | Not stated in the source | Sipping, short mixed serves, gifts for bitter drinkers |
If you want a simple way to choose, start with how dry you like your drink. I would go to DISPENSE AMARO first for the best balance of bitterness, sugar, and mixing use, then move lighter with ASTERLEY ORIGINAL or more bitter with BRITTANNICA.
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1. DISPENSE AMARO by Asterley Bros London
DISPENSE AMARO comes from brothers Rob and Jim Berry in South London. It is bottled at 26% ABV, and the English Pinot Noir base gives it a deeper, wine-led feel than many amari.
Flavour Profile
You taste that base early. Gentian, English hops, wormwood, orange and vanilla shape the bitter-herbal profile, built from 24 botanicals inspired by Nicholas Culpeper's 1653 London Dispensatory.
Bitterness Balance and Base
It starts with a 28-day cold maceration in 75% ABV spirit, then the spirit is blended with the wine. That process gives you a drier style, with less syrup and more grip.
Best Use and Value
At £31.95 for 500 ml, it earns its place on the shelf. Serve it at 8°C over ice, or top it with tonic or soda water if you want a longer drink. It also works well in a New London Negroni with gin and sweet vermouth. It holds a 5.0/5.0 rating from 41 reviews[3].
Use DISPENSE AMARO as the reference point for the styles that follow.
2. ASTERLEY ORIGINAL by Asterley Bros London
ASTERLEY ORIGINAL is Asterley Bros London's aperitivo-style bottle. It sits on the lighter, brighter side of the range, leaning towards aperitivo rather than amaro. In the glass, it shows a gentler face of the Asterley line.
At £20.95, it is the lower-priced bottle in the range and holds a 5.0/5.0 rating from 22 reviews[3]. That gives it a clear role here: a useful contrast before the range shifts back towards a more bitter profile.
3. Amaro Santoni
Amaro Santoni moves the comparison towards a more classic, sweeter amaro style. It shows the richer side of the category and works well for slow sipping after dinner. Set beside it, the British amari here tend to be drier, less sweet and more wine-led, which makes the next British bottle’s leaner, more herbal character easier to judge.
4. BRITTANNICA London Fernet by Asterley Bros London
After the softer aperitivo-style bottle, this is the driest and most bitter pour in the range. BRITTANNICA London Fernet is made for drinkers who want less sweetness and more grip, with a firmer, more direct style in the glass.
Flavour Profile
Expect a drier, straighter bitter profile than the amaro styles above. It does not soften the edges or lean into sweetness. Instead, it goes for bite, depth and a cleaner bitter line.
Base and Production
Asterley Bros London makes it in small batches in South London, led by Rob and Jim Berry.
Best Use and Value
BRITTANNICA works well for sipping, simple mixing or giving as a gift to bitter-liqueur drinkers. If your taste runs sharper and less sweet, this is the clearest pick of the bunch.
How the Bottles Differ on the Points That Matter
Each bottle plays a different part. The key things here are bitterness, texture and finish.
DISPENSE AMARO is the range's most complete bottle: the deepest botanical mix, firm bitterness and the cleanest balance in mixed drinks. It comes out on top for botanical complexity, bitterness control, sweetness restraint and mixing.
ASTERLEY ORIGINAL is the lightest, brightest pour, made for aperitivo serves and easy mixing.
BRITANNICA London Fernet is the driest, most bitter bottle in the range. It has the fullest texture and the longest finish, so it is the clearest choice for drinkers who want less sweetness and more grip.
All three share the house's lower-sugar, Pinot Noir-led style.
The table below shows the differences at a glance.
| Bottle | Botanical Complexity | Bitterness Control | Sweetness Restraint | Texture | Finish Length | Mixing Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISPENSE AMARO | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| ASTERLEY ORIGINAL | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| BRITANNICA FERNET | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
Use the table above to match bitterness, sweetness and finish to your preferred serve.
Pros and Cons
This is where the range turns into a buying call. Each bottle has its lane: some are easier for an early-evening spritz, others suit a slower pour after dinner.
Use the table below to sort by sweetness, bitterness and how you’re most likely to drink it day to day.
| Bottle | Pros | Cons | Best for | Not ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISPENSE AMARO (Our pick) | Great Taste 3-star winner; 5.0/5.0 from 41 reviews [2][3]; lower-sugar, Pinot Noir-led; mixes and sips well | More layered than a simple aperitivo-style pour | Gifting, mixing, sipping neat | Those who want the plainest possible serve |
| ASTERLEY ORIGINAL | British aperitivo style; 5.0/5.0 from 22 reviews [3] | Less detailed source coverage than DISPENSE | Aperitivo hour; aperitivo-style serves | Readers looking for a deeper amaro-style profile |
| BRITANNICA London Fernet | Rounded, wine-led finish; Pinot Noir base [1] | Less immediately approachable than the aperitivo-style bottle | Drier, more bitter serves | Readers who want the simplest option in the range |
On value, day-to-day use and awards, DISPENSE AMARO still stands out as the clearest all-round pick.
Conclusion
Taken together, the range falls into three clear uses: an all-round amaro, a lighter aperitivo and a sharper digestif. British amaro now has a clear identity: lower in sugar, firmer in bitterness and more wine-led than standard sweet liqueurs.
DISPENSE AMARO remains the clearest all-round British amaro: award-winning, lower in sugar and wine-led. Its awards, along with that low-sugar, Pinot Noir-led profile, make it the clearest British reference point whether you are sipping it neat, mixing a cocktail or choosing a gift. For most readers, DISPENSE AMARO is the best place to start.
FAQs
What makes a British amaro different?
British amaro starts with the Italian idea of a bitter, herbal liqueur, then gives it a British turn. The style stays rooted in amaro-making, but the base often shifts away from grape brandy. Some bottles use English Pinot Noir instead, which brings a deeper, more wine-led character to the glass.
What sets it apart, though, is the choice of botanicals. Think Yorkshire rhubarb, Kentish hops, elderflower and sloe berries. Those ingredients pull the flavour firmly into the British landscape, with each bottle shaped by local craft and a sense of place.
How should I serve British amaro?
British amaro is one of those bottles that earns its keep. You can pour it before dinner as an aperitivo or bring it out after a meal as a digestif, and it feels at home in both roles.
For a long drink, mix 50ml of Dispense Amaro with tonic over ice and garnish with an orange slice. If you want it after dinner, serve it neat or over a large ice cube. Slightly chilled, at around 10°C, brings out its 24 botanicals best, while ice or light chilling can soften the bitterness.
Which bottle should I start with?
Dispense Amaro is the clearest place to start. This modern British amaro lands in a balanced, easy-drinking spot between Italian amaro and current British craft.
It blends 24 botanicals, including gentian, hops and wormwood, over an English Pinot Noir vermouth base, which gives it depth and a wine-like finish. Drink it neat, over ice, or lengthened with tonic.