Liquers

In the hill town of Ascoli Piceno, in the heart of Le Marche, the Meletti family has been crafting their celebrated amaro since the late 19th century. The recipe — a closely guarded secret passed down through generations — draws on the aromatic herbs, roots, and spices of the surrounding countryside, including bitter genziana root native to the region, sweet orange peel, and cloves. The result is one of Italy's most beloved digestivi: balanced, complex, and unmistakably Italian.

The Meletti Liquore Amaro 750ml sits in a beautifully balanced middle ground — neither aggressively bitter nor cloying sweet. The nose is brisk and invigorating, hovering between herbal and medicinal. On the palate, rich caramel and hazelnut flavors take the lead, with just enough bitterness and baking spice to keep things lively and interesting. Traditionally enjoyed neat after a meal, it also adds a distinctive, aromatic depth to cocktails.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast — 93 Points | Best Buy: "The brisk, invigorating scent of this amaro hovers between herbal and medicinal. On the palate, it skews sweeter, with rich caramel and hazelnut flavors and just enough bitterness and baking spice to keep things interesting."

Spirit Details

• Amaro — blend of aromatic herbs, fruits & spices
• Key botanicals: genziana root, sweet orange peel, cloves
• Meletti, Ascoli Piceno, Le Marche, Italy
• 750ml
• Serve: neat after dinner, over ice, or in cocktails

Massenez Crème de Mûre · France · 750ml

Massenez Crème de Mûre is a French blackberry liqueur with a deep purple color and a pronounced berry character. Its fresh-fruit and jam notes make it a flavorful addition to a home bar, whether enjoyed on its own or used as a blackberry accent in cocktails.

Tasting Notes

Powerful blackberry aromas suggest fresh fruit purée and jam. The palate is round and pleasant, with fruit freshness supporting its aromatic intensity and a touch of seed bitterness at the finish.

Producer Description

Deep purple color. Frank and powerful olfactory attack. Impressions of puree of fresh fruit and jam. Round and pleasant mouth bring by the freshness of the fruit. Aromatic power of the blackberry. Bitterness of seeds at the end.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions

Try a small serving chilled or over ice. For a cocktail, use it as the blackberry component in a Bramble-style drink with gin and lemon, or add a little to sparkling wine. At the dessert table, try it with berry tarts, dark chocolate, or vanilla ice cream.

Details

• Producer: Massenez
• Country: France
• Style: Crème de mûre blackberry liqueur
• Appearance: Deep purple
• Flavor focus: Blackberry, fresh fruit purée, and jam
• Finish: A touch of seed bitterness
• Bottle size: 750ml

Producer Description 

A first sip to taste the bitter notes of Colombo, Aloe, and the unmistakable tang of Gentian. A second small sip will reveal the spicy notes of Zedoary and the full-bodied flavor of Chamomile. With the final sip, the liqueur unveils its full repertoire of flavors: the overall effect is bitter, but a delicately spicy aftertaste lingers—the flavor of Myrrh.

Fernet-Branca is the world’s leading Italian amaro with a uniquely bitter herbal flavor profile. The distinctly bitter taste is beloved by bartenders worldwide, earning Fernet Branca the nickname ‘the bartender’s handshake.’

Today, only one person in the world knows the secretly guarded recipe. The complex bitter profile makes Fernet-Branca the perfect bitter herbal modifier for any cocktail.

Fernet-Branca is versatile and can be enjoyed in numerous ways. For a straightforward experience, try it neat in a shot glass accompanied by your favorite beer. Alternatively, you can savor it on the rocks, blended with ice and soda, mixed with tonic water, or paired with ginger ale. Additionally, it serves as an excellent ingredient in a wide variety of cocktails. 

Expert Review

94 Points Tasting Panel | At 46 proof, Montenegro has become one of the leading amari and is extremely popular with mixologists. The sarsaparilla nose is iconic, the palate and experience of bitters and sweets, intertwined with twists and turns, from chocolate to root vegetable to orange zest.

Producer Description 

Soft and silky mouthfeel with a satisfying balance between sweet and bitter notes. Its well- balanced sweetness merges with the other ingredients, fading in a pleasantly bitter finish. Citrus entry with a high level of complexity. Sweet and bitter oranges leave room for motes of lime and mandarin. The herbaceous aroma of marjoram and thyme is gently overcome by spiced, basalmic blends of incense and eucalyptus. Complex roasted notes complete an elegant finish reminiscent of undergrowth and mineral tones. Amber-colored and bright with delicate mahogany transparencies on the outer edges. 

Henri Bardouin · Haute Provence, France · 90 Proof · 750ml

Henri Bardouin Pastis brings the aromatic character of Haute Provence to the aperitif glass. Its blend of 65 herbs and spices offers a layered expression of pastis, with anise at the center and a rich botanical backdrop.

Producer & Craft

Produced by Distilleries et Domaines de Provence, Henri Bardouin is made using traditional maceration methods. Its closely guarded recipe combines natural botanicals in a pastis rooted in the traditions of Provence.

Tasting Notes

The delicate sweetness of anise meets a complex array of herbs and spices. Aromatic and balanced, it reveals its botanical character when diluted with cold water, turning cloudy and opalescent in the glass.

Serving & Pairing

For the traditional serve, pour one part Henri Bardouin into a glass and add five parts cold water. Enjoy as an aperitif alongside olives, a cheese platter, grilled fish, or shellfish. It can also lend a distinct anise accent to cocktails.

Details

• Brand: Henri Bardouin
• Producer: Distilleries et Domaines de Provence
• Style: Pastis
• Origin: Haute Provence, France
• Botanical blend: 65 herbs and spices
• Alcohol: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• Bottle size: 750ml

A layered Provençal aperitif for leisurely sipping with cold water.

Campari Aperitivo — Milan, Italy 48 Proof

Campari is one of the world's most iconic spirits — the aperitif par excellence, born in Milan in 1860 from the experiments of Gaspare Campari and unchanged for over 150 years. The recipe is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the drinks world: a precise infusion of herbs, aromatic plants, and fruit in alcohol and water, with the exact number of ingredients debated by enthusiasts — some say 20, others 60, others still 80. What is certain is that no one has ever replicated it. Campari's unmistakable ruby-red color, bittersweet complexity, and aromatic intensity have made it the foundation of some of the world's greatest cocktails — the Negroni, the Campari Spritz, and the Americano among them. The 1.0L format is the professional's choice — built for the bar and the home bartender who takes their aperitivo seriously.

The nose is intensely aromatic: bitter orange peel, cherry, rhubarb, and a complex herbal bouquet of roots, spices, and botanicals. On the palate, it is boldly bittersweet — a wave of citrus peel and cherry up front, followed by layers of herbal complexity, a touch of vanilla, and a long, pleasantly bitter finish that lingers and invites the next sip. Unmistakable. Irreplaceable.

"A unique and unmistakable recipe, kept the same since its inception — the inimitable Campari, the aperitif par excellence for over 150 years." — Campari

• Producer: Campari Group, Milan, Italy
• Style: Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur
• ABV: 24% (48 Proof)
• Size: 1.0 Liter
• Recipe: Secret infusion of herbs, aromatic plants, and fruit — unchanged since 1860
• Tasting Notes: Bitter orange, cherry, rhubarb, herbal roots, spice, vanilla, long bitter finish
• Serve: Negroni, Campari Spritz, Americano, or on the rocks with soda and orange
• Best Paired With: Charcuterie, olives, bruschetta, fried appetizers, light pasta, risotto

The original Italian bitter — Campari is irreplaceable, unmistakable, and the 1.0L is the bottle every serious bar needs.

Producer Description 

Sweet, strong liqueur whose base consists of essential oils extracted through steam distillation of star anise seed. To this is added a concentrated solution of sugar and other natural secret ingredients.

Producer Description 

Hiram Walker Anisette's sweet licorice flavor comes from carefully selected, imported aniseed. 

Producer Description 

Created in 1880 by founder Louis-Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is a premium blend of cognacs with wild tropical oranges from the Caribbean. 

Cointreau L'Unique Orange Liqueur — France

Cointreau is the original triple sec — the benchmark against which every orange liqueur is measured. Distilled in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou since 1875, L'Unique is crafted from a precise blend of sweet and bitter orange peels sourced from around the world, triple-distilled in copper pot stills to achieve its signature clarity and balance. At 80 proof, it is at once intensely aromatic and supremely versatile — the essential building block of the Margarita, Cosmopolitan, and Sidecar, and a sublime digestif on its own over ice.

The nose opens with a sophisticated orange pulp bouquet that, after aeration, shifts to dry, elegant peel. On the palate, the entry is intensely orange peel-like yet more sweet than bittersweet; the midpalate is deeply orangey, sweet, and sublimely juicy. The finish is ideally citrusy, tart, and astringent before turning lithe and sweet — a textbook expression of what orange liqueur can be.

Wine Enthusiast 92 — "The benchmark for all orange flavored liqueurs and triple secs. State of the art."

• Producer: Cointreau, Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France
• Style: Orange Liqueur / Triple Sec
• ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
• Size: 1.0 Liter
• Base: Sweet & bitter orange peels, triple-distilled
• Tasting Notes: Orange peel, citrus zest, sweet orange pulp, tart finish
• Serve: Neat, over ice, or as the essential cocktail ingredient
• Best Paired With: Margaritas, Cosmopolitans, Sidecars, chocolate desserts, crêpes Suzette

The world's most iconic orange liqueur — Cointreau L'Unique is the one bottle every bar and home collection needs.

Expert Review 

95 Points Tasting Panel | On the heels of intense aromas of marzipan and honeyed peach follows one of the silkiest mouthfeels imaginable, with a weighty caress of cocoa and almond on the palate that lingers until the next sip.

Producer Description 

The velvety smooth taste and unmistakable aroma gave Disaronno the reputation of the world’s favorite Italian liqueur, which is stated proudly on its label. 

Chartreuse Jaune (Yellow) — Liqueur, 43% ABV

Made by the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps since 1838, Chartreuse Yellow is one of the world’s most extraordinary and irreplaceable liqueurs. Like its iconic Green sibling, it is produced by macerating over 130 different herbs, plants, roots, and botanicals — a secret recipe known only to two monks at any given time.

Where Green Chartreuse is bold and assertive, Yellow is the softer, more honeyed expression — prized for its floral complexity, gentle sweetness, and remarkable depth. The nose opens with wildflower honey, cardamom, anise, and citrus zest, with coriander and herbal notes weaving through. On the palate, it is lush, warming, and beautifully balanced — “gloriously lush,” as Wine Enthusiast put it, awarding it 90–95 points.

“Gloriously lush.” — Wine Enthusiast, 90–95 Points

• Producer: Chartreuse Diffusion / Carthusian Monks, Voiron, France
• Style: Herbal Liqueur
• Botanicals: 130+ herbs, plants, roots & botanicals
• Size: 750ml
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Tasting Notes: Wildflower honey, cardamom, anise, citrus, coriander, herbal complexity
• Best Enjoyed: Neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails — Naked & Famous, Last Word, or a simple Yellow Chartreuse Sour

A once-in-a-lifetime liqueur made by monks, unchanged for nearly two centuries — there is nothing else quite like it.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast: 96-100 Points | A blend of original Benedictine and Cognac. Smells assertively of herbs, honey, quinine and baking spices with added aromas of black tea and tobacco. Entry tastes of tea, sage, fennel and a touch of quinine; the Cognac emerges at midpalate, lending a layer of elegance and genuine distillate presence. Finishes like a champion, long, semisweet, intensely herbal, mildly spicy and satiny. 

Producer Description 

B&B Liqueur is comprised of two parts - subtle, spiced Benedictine Liqueur and fine French cognac. It's a balance of flavors in a pour that tastes smooth yet finishes bold. The rich, noble notes of B&B are perfectly enjoyed neat in a snifter, yet are equally appealing in a fine selection of cocktails.

Cointreau L'Unique Orange Liqueur — France

Cointreau is the original triple sec — the benchmark against which every orange liqueur is measured. Distilled in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou since 1875, L'Unique is crafted from a precise blend of sweet and bitter orange peels sourced from around the world, triple-distilled in copper pot stills to achieve its signature clarity and balance. At 80 proof, it is at once intensely aromatic and supremely versatile — the essential building block of the Margarita, Cosmopolitan, and Sidecar, and a sublime digestif on its own over ice.

The nose opens with a sophisticated orange pulp bouquet that, after aeration, shifts to dry, elegant peel. On the palate, the entry is intensely orange peel-like yet more sweet than bittersweet; the midpalate is deeply orangey, sweet, and sublimely juicy. The finish is ideally citrusy, tart, and astringent before turning lithe and sweet — a textbook expression of what orange liqueur can be.

Wine Enthusiast 92 — "The benchmark for all orange flavored liqueurs and triple secs. State of the art."

• Producer: Cointreau, Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France
• Style: Orange Liqueur / Triple Sec
• ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
• Size: 750ml
• Base: Sweet & bitter orange peels, triple-distilled
• Tasting Notes: Orange peel, citrus zest, sweet orange pulp, tart finish
• Serve: Neat, over ice, or as the essential cocktail ingredient
• Best Paired With: Margaritas, Cosmopolitans, Sidecars, chocolate desserts, crêpes Suzette

The world's most iconic orange liqueur — Cointreau L'Unique is the one bottle every bar and home collection needs.