Cocchi Americano Aperitif (750ml)

Cocchi (pronounced co-key) Aperitivo Americano falls along the lines of a Bianco Vermouth. Produced since 1891 from moscato d’asti and fortified with a touch of brandy, it’s subsequently flavoured with bittering aromatics like gentian and cinchona bark, along with orange peels and herbs. Toby Cecchini, writing for the New York Times Magazine, comments “...what has cocktail enthusiasts excited about Cocchi is that it is secretly acknowledged to be the most similar product in existence to the old-formula Kina Lillet.”

Lillet Blanc, (formerly Kina Lillet), a product directly imported by Nicks Wine Merchants, was originally a bitter tonic drink, however the quinine content was reduced in 1986, leaving the market bereft of a properly bitter alternative. Though not as intense as Lillet, Cocchi’s product certainly offers a lighter and more bitter aperitif experience that should appeal to any mixologist concerned with historical accuracy.

Tasting note: Bright pale straw / gold appearance. Mildly oxidised, grapey aromas mingle with floral notes. Further inspection yields hints of fresh picked, sweet oregano and ripe quince. A soft, round, semi sweet entry leads into a moderately concentrated mid palate offering flavours of moscato and dried apricot that’s nicely counterpointed by gentle bitterness. Finishes fresh, clean and gently bitter with a quinine, citrus peel aftertaste persisting. Try it in your next Corpse Reviver or Vesper. 16.5% Alc./Vol.