Amaro Lucano was invented by Pasquale Vena and is still produced in the Basilicata town of Pisticci Scalo. Indeed, the name "Lucano" comes from "Lucania", the Roman word for Basilicata. When his brothers left for America, Pasquale traveled north to Naples, where he worked in a pasticceria called Scaturchio (which still exists today in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore). There, as well as learning the art of pastry-making he also developed an interest in herbs and herbal mixtures. Returning to Pisticci, Pasquale opened a bar called Caffè Vena, whose pastries and bitters proved an immediate success. When Pasquale died in 1937, the bar was left to his two sons Leonardo and Giuseppe, and in 1965 a new factory was built to meet the increased demand for Amaro Lucano.
Today, Amaro Lucano is one of Italy’s most popular liqueurs. Served neat after dinner, topped up with soda as an aperitivo or over ice with a twist of lemon in summer, Amaro Lucano also pairs beautifully with hard aged cheeses as a late-night snack. The liqueur’s label features a woman called "Pacchiana" (a Campanian word for "farmer") holding a basket of herbs. The motto on the label is "Lavoro e onestà", which means "work and honesty." The label also depicts various medals and awards, and crests from the Savoy and Duchy of Aosta families.
