Brucato makes amaros using the produce, botanicals, and flavors of California. Each expression of Brucato reflects the spirit of a specific California landscape.
Our amaros are made to drink before or after a meal. We like to think that they provide an opportunity for anticipation of the night to come, and for reflection on the night that was.
OUR AMAROS
Brucato Amaros are made with the integrity of ingredients and the sense of place that are the hallmark of traditional Italian bitter liqueurs. That place is California, and those ingredients are real local fruit and herbs (and lots of them).
Our amaros are delicious served neat or on ice, mixed with soda, sparkling wine, or both, or in a cocktail.
Find classic and original Brucato Amaro cocktail recipes here.
CHAPARRAL
California chaparral covers the foothills and mountain slopes along the coast. Characterized by manzanita, sage brush, and scrub oak, the grey-green rugged hills explode with wildflowers in the spring.
Brucato Chaparral’s dominant ingredients are yerba santa (a California native herb with a distinct bittersweet flavor, highly revered by apothecaries for its medicinal properties), spearmint, and cardamom.
THE TASTE:
Warm, bright herbal flavor, with a long-lasting mint and anise finish.
Liqueur of the Year, Double Gold, 2023 Bartenders Spirits Awards
Gold, 2023 LA Spirits Awards
Gold, 2023 NY International Spirits Competition
Gold, 2023 USA Spirits Ratings
Double Gold, 2022 SF World Spirits Competition
Best Herbal Liqueur, Double Gold, 2021 SF World Spirits Competition
Try it in a classic LAST WORD
3/4 oz Brucato Chaparral
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz maraschino
3/4 oz lime juice
Shake and strain into small cocktail glass.
Check out other classic and original Brucato Chaparral recipes here.
ORCHARDS
California’s orchards stretch from the Central Valley to the Coastal Range. Rolling hills line fertile valleys of apricot, walnut, and almond trees. In the springtime, the orchards turn white with blossoms, and in summer they lie heavy with fruit.
Brucato Orchards’ dominant ingredients are apricots, walnuts, meyer lemon, orange, and cinnamon.
THE TASTE:
Juicy apricot and candied orange flavors, followed by notes of warm spices and walnuts.
Double Gold, 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards
Double Gold, 2023 SF World Spirits Competition
Gold, 2023 USA Spirits Ratings
Double Gold, 2022 SF World Spirits Competition
Gold, 2021 SF World Spirits Competition
Try it in a classic NEGRONI
1 oz Brucato Orchards
1 oz gin
1 oz sweet vermouth
Stir and strain over ice.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Check out other classic and original Brucato Orchards recipes here.
WOODLANDS
The live oak woodlands that line the California coast fill with fog in the mornings and dappled sunlight in the afternoon. The canopy provides shade for huckleberries and hawthorn, and protection for blossoming elderberries.
Brucato Woodlands’ dominant ingredients are elderberry, cocoa nibs, black fig, and citrus.
THE TASTE:
All dark fruits and berries, with a distinctly chocolaty undertone, and a woodsy bitterness at the finish.
Gold, 2023 USA Spirits Ratings
Gold, 2023 SF World Spirits Competition
Gold, 2022 SF World Spirits Competition
Double Gold, 2021 SF World Spirits Competition
Try it in a classic BLACK MANHATTAN
1 oz Brucato Woodlands
2 oz rye whiskey
2 dashes orange bitters
Stir and strain into small cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist
Check out other classic and original Brucato Woodlands recipes here.
OUR STORY
We were inspired to create Brucato out of a deep love for the California landscapes…
… and the culture of drinking and eating that has grown out of that land.
Drinking and eating are a part of a sense of place, made all the stronger if shared with friends and family. Brucato is made for those nights, gathered around the table with those closest to you.
Our Namesake: John G. Brucato
Our amaros bear the name of John G. Brucato, founder of the San Francisco Farmer’s Market in 1943. In addition to his work connecting local farms with city-dwellers in need of fresh food, John Brucato also ran a winery in the heart of San Francisco, making him our spiritual forebear. His favorite expression still guides us today: Sempre Avanti!
Brucato was founded by Sierra and James Clark. Sierra comes to the endeavor with a background in food and drink writing and academia — she holds a PhD in Food Studies, focusing her studies on spirits. They have built the recipes carefully, starting with 200 individual infusions of fruits, herbs, and spices, sourced from small farms or foraged where possible. They are deeply involved in all steps of the process, down to hand-peeling citrus and applying neck labels by hand.
In addition to their love of drinks, Sierra and James have a history in social policy, which they bring to Brucato in the form of a dedication to using the brand to support their community. Brucato will engage in efforts to give back to the farmers, the restaurants and bars, and the land without which it could not exist.
Thank you to our amazing team! Labels and designs by Arin Fishkin. Cocktails and brand development by There There Co. Photography by Eric Wolfinger.