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5. Liqueur Negroni - Notte di Corsica

The Corsican digestif from Niolu

Artisanal liqueurs are among Corsica's most iconic digestifs. Myrtle, chestnut, mandarin, water mint, blackberry, apricot, pear, plum, five citrus fruits, hazelnut, as well as ratafia and myrtle brandies: since 2012, the Negroni Distillery in Calacuccia has been crafting a range of spirits made exclusively from Corsican fruits, plants, and berries. In the heart of the Niolu region, it carries on a tradition of expertise based on long maceration periods and the distillation of its own brandies.

Practical Information

• Approximately 30-minute tour (shop, still, maceration room)
• Free tasting
• Production process visible from the shop
• Shop open year-round
• Free parking
• Group tours available by reservation

Why visit the Negroni Distillery?

Located at the entrance to Calacuccia before the dam, in the heart of the Niolu region, the Negroni Distillery offers a behind-the-scenes look at the artisanal production of Corsican liqueurs and brandies. The tour lasts about 30 minutes and includes a look at the German-made Müller still, the fermentation tanks, the production areas, and the gift shop.

A complimentary tasting is offered so you can sample the distillery's various specialties. Individual visitors are welcome year-round, while reservations are recommended for groups.

In the summer, the shop is open 7 days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and then from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. During the off-season, it welcomes visitors year-round by appointment.

New Negroni Distillery

Housed since 2024 in its new 300 m² facility at the entrance to Calacuccia, the Negroni Distillery features a tasting shop adjacent to the production area. Antoine Negroni has joined his father in the family business and is now involved in the distillery's development as well as in welcoming customers.

The workshop is equipped with a Müller Brennereianlagen still, custom-built in Germany, which now enables the production of artisanal pear, plum, grape, and apricot brandies, complementing the range of Corsican liqueurs.

Distillery located near the Calacuccia Dam

The distillery is located at the Calacuccia Dam roundabout, just past the A Casa Niulinca restaurant, where Negroni liqueurs are served as a digestif at the end of a meal or can be sampled at the bar.

Fior' di Notte, the original aperitif

The distillery's first creation, Fior' di Notte blends wild sloe and juniper. The berries are hand-picked in winter before being dried and then macerated. An original aperitif with the aromas of the Corsican maquis.

How are Negroni liqueurs made?

Each recipe begins with the selection of fruits, berries, or plants grown in Corsica or harvested from the maquis, depending on the season. After cleaning and preparation, the ingredients are left to macerate in alcohol for a period ranging from 60 to 120 days, depending on the recipe.

Once maceration is complete, the liqueur is filtered, then blended with water and sugar to achieve the desired balance. It is then bottled directly at the Calacuccia distillery, where every step of the process is carried out on site.

The 10 Corsican Liqueurs: Negroni—Flavors of the Maquis

Crafted in the heart of Niolu, Negroni liqueurs capture the essence of the Corsican maquis and the island's fruits and citrus: myrtle, chestnut, mandarin, water mint, blackberry, apricot, pear, plum, five citrus fruits, and hazelnut. Each maceration lasts between 60 and 120 days, depending on the recipe, to release the full aromatic richness of the fruits.

Made exclusively from fruits, berries, or plants grown in Corsica, these artisanal Corsican liqueurs have a color that varies naturally depending on the harvest. For example, the smaller, more concentrated myrtle berries from 2022 yielded a more intense hue than those from the previous year. The range has also been expanded with new creations made from pears, plums, grapes, apricots, and hazelnuts, all crafted using exclusively Corsican ingredients.

The liqueur range now includes 10 flavors:

Niolu Chestnut Liqueur – Licora di Castagna

Seeking to promote his region—in keeping with Jean-Marc's philosophy that the terroir begins at one's feet—this chestnut liqueur is made exclusively with chestnuts from Niolu AOP producers, harvested in the fall.

It is not made from chestnut flour, but from whole roasted chestnuts, processed from December through January.

A true gem, the chestnut flavor is authentic and smooth on the palate—a must-try.

Ingredients: alcohol (33% by volume), water, chestnuts, sugar.

Corsican myrtle liqueur – Licora di Mortule

Since myrtle grows only along the coast, the myrtle berries are harvested by Jean-Marc Negroni in Propriano over a period of 3 to 4 days, as well as in Cap Corse and Aléria by professional pickers. The harvesting season runs from December to January. Ultimately, about 250 kilograms of myrtle are used for a year's production.

Myrtle liqueur is the most in-demand product, and its production is currently prioritized to prevent stockouts. As the island's iconic fruit, myrtle liqueur is very often served as a digestif in restaurants, just like limoncellu.

Ingredients: alcohol (33% by volume), water, myrtle, sugar.

Corsican Mandarin Liqueur – Licora di Mandarina

Mandarin liqueur is also a flagship product of Negroni Liqueurs and is highly prized for its smoothness. The mandarins are supplied by a grower in Venzolasca, in the Casinca region, and are untreated.

Jean-Marc Négroni chose the mandarin over the famous Corsican clementine for a matter of taste, as the mandarin—and particularly its peel—is less acidic than that of the clementine. The mandarins are also harvested in winter, from December through January.

Ingredients: alcohol (33% by volume), water, mandarin, sugar.

Corsican Water Mint Liqueur – Licora di Mintrastella

Less well-known than myrtle or chestnut liqueurs, this mint liqueur nonetheless deserves its place among the distillery's specialties. Made from river mint, it captivates with its natural freshness, distinctive aromas, and digestive properties.

River mint is an aquatic plant that grows naturally along Corsican rivers. In summer, the heat brings out its distinctive fragrance, recognizable to anyone who frequents the island's rivers.

Mint liqueur is naturally clear, just like mint syrup, when no food coloring is used.

Ingredients: alcohol (33% by volume), water, mint leaves, sugar.

Corsican Blackberry Liqueur – Licora di Mora

This blackberry liqueur celebrates this wild berry that grows on brambles, which are particularly abundant in Corsica's mid-mountain regions. Made from alcohol, water, Corsican blackberries, and sugar, it offers a harmonious balance between sweetness and aromatic richness.

Available in 70 cl bottles, it has an alcohol content of 29%.

5 Citrus Liqueur – Licora 5 Agrumi

The 5 Agrumi liqueur combines mandarin, pomelo, citron, lemon, and bitter orange, all sourced exclusively from Corsican farms. This blend of citrus fruits creates a particularly fresh and fragrant liqueur.

It is available in 70 cl bottles and has an alcohol content of 29%.

Corsican Hazelnut Liqueur – Licora di Nucella

The latest creation from the Negroni Distillery, this hazelnut liqueur showcases hazelnuts grown in Corsica's Casinca region and the plains. Their maceration reveals delicate aromas of dried fruit, while maintaining a lovely finesse on the palate.

Its natural sweetness and slightly roasted notes make it an ideal liqueur to enjoy as a digestif, either on its own or slightly chilled.

Ingredients: hazelnuts (nuts), alcohol (32% by volume), water, sugar.

Corsican Pear Liqueur – Licora di Pera

Made from pears grown in Corsica, this liqueur showcases all the finesse and delicacy of the fruit. A long maceration process extracts the natural aromas and yields a beautifully fruity profile.

Balanced, smooth, and elegant, this pear liqueur captivates with its freshness on the palate and its delicately fragrant finish. It is best enjoyed as a digestif, either on its own or slightly chilled.

Bottles of 10, 35, and 70 cl

Liqueurs Negroni - Les différents formats

Negroni Corsican liqueurs are available in three sizes: 10 cl, 35 cl, and 70 cl.

The small 10 cl size is often found in attractive gift sets, perfect for introducing your loved ones who are not yet familiar with the range to the different flavors.

Convenient and portable, the 10 cl bottle is also ideal for air travelers: allowed in carry-on luggage, it avoids the risk of breakage in the cargo hold.

In grocery stores in Corsica and on the mainland

Well-balanced, relatively low in sugar, and with an optimal alcohol content of 33%, these Corsican liqueurs are now available in most Corsican specialty grocery stores, such as A Fiera in Folelli, at numerous wine shops, in Michelin-starred restaurants, and off the island: in Bordeaux, Paris, Nice, Lyon, and even in Switzerland.

Artisanal brandies

Since installing his German Müller still in 2024, Jean-Marc Negroni has been producing his own artisanal brandies.

After the fruit undergoes natural fermentation in vats, it is distilled directly at the distillery to produce brandies with an authentic character that fully express the fruit's aromas.

The range now includes a traditional brandy as well as myrtle, pear, plum, grape, and apricot brandies. As with the liqueurs, all the fruit used comes exclusively from Corsican farms.

Rattafia, the alcoholic beverage made from whole macerated grapes

The distillery also produces a Ratafia made from whole grape clusters that are slowly macerated in alcohol to extract their full aromatic richness. This traditional process results in a particularly indulgent drink with naturally fruity notes.

A native of Calacuccia, a village of 300 residents, Jean-Marc Negroni spent his youth on the mainland, returning only for vacations. His desire to reconnect with his Niolu roots took shape through a spirits project rooted in his homeland. In 2010–2011, he developed his first, unique recipe. The first bottles were produced in the spring of 2012, and today more than 10,000 bottles a year leave the Niolu distillery.

Address and Contacts : Liqueur Negroni - Notte di Corsica