Christian Drouin ABC de Christian Drouin Aperitif
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, medium golden/amber color. The aromatics are very intense, offering aromas of baked apple, jasmine, and orange peel with supporting notes of cinnamon, wild flowers, and candied citrus zest. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a baked apple-driven core with supporting flavors of quince, apricot stone, peach, and kumquat. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and impeccably balanced with a supple texture. $34.99 – 5 Stars
Greenbar Grand Poppy Amaro
Brilliant, copper/orange color. The nose leaps from the glass with fresh scents of wild flowers, herbs, bitter fruit, and citrus zest with hints of earth and pepper. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a semisweet herbal blast with generous flavors of grapefruit, dried flowers, and forest floor. Medium-bodied with great complexity, length, and balance. $27.99 – 4 Stars
Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo
Brilliant, pink/salmon color. The nose is first greeted with the scent of fresh grapefruit with lemon and orange that evolves to sweet and tart red berries and hints of herbs. The palate confirms the nose with sweet, red berries in the lead supported by fresh herbs and citrus zest that lingers on the semi-tart finish. Medium-bodied with great balance and vibrancy delivering generous vinous fruit and citrus. $25 – 4.5 Stars
The Bitter Truth EXR Bitters
Deep mahogany color. The nose is filled with the scents of dried herbs, bark, stewed fruits, and citrus peel with burnt caramel. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, viscous herbaceous core with sweet and tart fruits akin to Amaro with accents of bitter seeds. Medium to full-bodied with a viscous core relying on bitterness to give a refreshing edge. $34.99 – 3.5 Stars
Amaro dell'Etna Amaro
Brilliant, mahogany color. The nose is filled with complex and alluring aromatics including orange peel, licorice, rhubarb, cinnamon, and dried herbs. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but vibrant core of bitter citrus, herbs, and spices with silky vanilla accents and bittersweet berries on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with incredible complexity, length, and balance. Sip after dinner or enjoy in your favorite bitter cocktail. $39.99 – 4.5 Stars
Martini & Rossi Bitter
Brilliant, electric ruby color. The aromatics are beautifully complex with scents of ripe red fruit supported by bitter bark, crushed teaberry, rhubarb, red grapefruit zest, quinine, and blood orange. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant red fruit core with waves of herbs, citrus, and tart red fruits than finish dry. Medium-bodied being ideally balanced with the classic contrast of bitter herbs with a semisweet red fruit core. We love this bitter and we have a new Bitter for our regular Negroni nights as it's every bit as good — if not better — than the other brand we all know! In competitive markets this lovely aperitif sells for well under $20 a bottle. $26.99 – 4.5 Stars
Campari Bitters
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully complex with scents of bitter bark, teaberry, cranberry, rhubarb, grapefruit zest, quinine, and blood orange. The palate echoes the nose delivering bitter herb and spice flavors that are more tart than sweet with generous citrus notes. Perfectly balanced with the classic contrast of bitter with a mild sweet, fruit core. $29 – 4.5 Stars
Lucano Amaro
Brilliant, crystal clear. It's very aromatic with rich fruit compote featuring bitter cherries and citrus zest with wild flowers, brown baking spices, and accents of vanilla, wild honey, clove, and hints of anise. The palate confirms the nose being lush and silky offering a mild spice impression as compared with many Amaro while never being overly sweet or cloying. Vibrant while lush and satisfying with a viscosity that lingers for a good minute. Ideally balancing spice, fruit, and sweet flavors in total harmony. $29.99 – 4 Stars
