The sun sits high over Piedmont's citrus groves, and the air hangs thick with grapefruit, wild fennel and a whisper of hops drifting in from the fields outside Turin. Strucchi Bitter Bianco is the house's pale sibling – straw-yellow, bright, and just as at home in a morning aperitivo as in the last drink of the night.

The Expert's Description

Strucchi Bitter Bianco is an Italian Bitter from Piedmont, made with 15 botanicals and bottled at 27%. It's the newest addition to the Strucchi family – the paler sibling to the deeper Bitter Rosso, but built on an entirely different axis: citrus, florals and a lightness that makes it just as fitting for brunch as for the first drink of the evening.

The Strucchi name goes back to Arnaldo Strucchi, a Piedmontese oenologist who wrote the book on how a proper Vermouth di Torino should be made, back in 1907. These days it's gin-maker Paolo Dalla Mora running the show – he revived Strucchi's name and built a whole range around his work: three vermouths, the red Bitter Rosso, and now this, the palest of them all.

Bitter Bianco is built around 15 botanicals, among them hops, grapefruit, mandarin, wild fennel, bitter orange, cardamom, liquorice, gentian, clary sage and galangal. The result is straw-yellow and almost transparent, with a bitterness that leans toward citrus and florals rather than the heavier, darker style found in Campari and other red bitters.

Like the rest of the range, the bottle carries a label drawn by illustrator Riccardo Guasco, who has given every bottle in the Strucchi family its own Art Deco figure pulled from the early 1900s.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose brings grapefruit and mandarin, with hints of wild fennel and herbs that give it a fresh, almost green edge.

Palate

On the palate, bitter orange and hops meet warm touches of cardamom and liquorice, without ever turning heavy.

Finish

The finish runs long and bitter, with floral notes of gentian, clary sage and galangal lingering behind.

Specifications

Name: Strucchi Bitter Bianco
Distillery: Strucchi
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter
ABV: 27%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: In a White Negroni, Spritz or Sbagliato Bianco, or simply over ice with a slice of citrus

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Citrus · Spiced · Floral · Straw Yellow

Did You Know?

The woman on the label is Amalia Panigati, one of Italy's first female glass artists, known for her stained-glass windows in Milan's Duomo. Illustrator Riccardo Guasco gave her the starring role on Bitter Bianco specifically – a tribute to an artist who, as the brand's own ambassador put it, could "paint with light".

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Turin at dusk smells of bitter orange, gentian and the endless aperitivo hour along the cafés of Via Po. Strucchi Bitter Rosso comes straight out of that scene. The bottle carries the name of an oenologist who wrote the book on vermouth in 1907 – and never knew what he'd set in motion.

The Expert's Description

Strucchi Bitter Rosso is an Italian Bitter from Piedmont, bottled at 27% and built around nine botanicals. It was created as the natural partner to Strucchi Vermouth Rosso, so the two can meet in a Milano-Torino, though it holds its own just as well over ice or in a Negroni.

The name comes from Arnaldo Strucchi, a Piedmontese oenologist who published Il Vermouth di Torino in 1907 and helped set the standard for how a proper Vermouth di Torino should be made. More than a hundred years later, entrepreneur Paolo Dalla Mora dug the story back up and built a whole range around it – three vermouths and this bitter, all rooted firmly in early-1900s Turin aperitivo culture.

The botanicals list includes juniper and gentian among others, and that combination gives the bitter its spiced backbone. Rhubarb root and cinchona bark add the depth, while wormwood and bitter orange keep it firmly on the herbal track from nose to palate.

The label draws on the same history. Illustrator Riccardo Guasco drew the whole Strucchi range as Art Deco figures reinterpreting icons of the 1920s – Greta Garbo on the Bianco, Mata Hari on the Rosso vermouth, Josephine Baker on the Dry. Bitter Rosso got Rodolfo Valentino, the actor who defined the leading man of silent film.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense and a little sharp at first – wormwood and bitter orange peel push forward, before a light sweetness from rhubarb root shows up behind them.

Palate

Rhubarb root, gentian and cinchona bark take over on the palate, and the bitterness is pronounced but never harsh. There's a full, almost syrupy body that keeps the whole thing from turning too dry.

Finish

The finish stretches out long, herbal and dry, with a late touch of aloe and germander.

Specifications

Name: Strucchi Bitter Rosso
Distillery: Strucchi
Region/Country: Piedmont, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter
ABV: 27%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: In a Milano-Torino, Negroni or Americano, or simply over ice with a slice of orange

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Herbal · Citrus · Spiced · Ruby Red

Did You Know?

Strucchi won the Barawards Innovation prize just six months after launch in 2023, and the range has since made its way into bars in the UK and Switzerland.

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Some bottles never get opened, yet they still carry a story every time they land on a shelf. This is one of them — an old, sealed bottle of Campari Bitter, pulled from an era when cocktail recipes were printed straight onto the label, and when "Ausländisches Erzeugnis" was the stamp that told German consumers they were holding the real Italian thing.

Expert's Description

This Campari Bitter is an Italian herb-based aperitif liqueur from Davide Campari Milano, bottled at 25% ABV for the German export market, most likely during the 1960s or 1970s.

The bottle carries the older label reading "Fratelli Campari Successori" and "Davide Campari Milano," and the back of the label prints four classic serving suggestions in German — Campari with soda, Campari with orange juice, Campari on the rocks, and Campari Shakerato. Beneath the cap sits a gold-trimmed foil reading "Davide Campari Milano," a detail typical of Italian export bottlings from that period.

Distribution to the German market was handled by Campari Deutschland GmbH in Munich, clearly stated on the label alongside the era's German import mark, "Ausländisches Erzeugnis." The cap is the old metal screw type, and the bottle appears to be an original, unopened vintage example.

The recipe behind Campari has stayed largely unchanged since Gaspare Campari first put it together in Milan in 1860 — an infusion of herbs, fruit peels, and spices, with only a handful of people at the company knowing the full formula.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bitter orange peel, quinine bark, and a faint caramel sweetness woven through herbal, slightly medicinal notes.

Palate

A firm quinine bitterness balanced by sweetness and a sharp citrus core, with hints of rhubarb, juniper, and a spicy warmth underneath.

Finish

Long and bitter, trailing off with orange peel and a dry, herbal edge.

Specifications

Name: Campari Bitter Vintage 1970s
Distillery: Davide Campari Milano
Region/Country: Milan, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter Liqueur
ABV: 25%
Serving Suggestion: A classic in a Negroni, Campari Soda, or Americano — also good served neat over ice with an orange slice.

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Citrus · Herbal · Spiced

Did You Know?

Campari's original red colour came from carmine dye, extracted from crushed cochineal insects — a practice the brand only dropped in favour of artificial colouring in 2006.

Some bottles just sit in the back of the cabinet forever, saved for the right occasion, never quite finished off. This is one of those. An old German Kräuterbitter from Fischach, its label so faded it almost tells its own story of the years spent standing there.

Expert description

A. Hauser Kräuterbitter is a German half-bitter from Fischach in Bavaria, made from select herbs and bottled at 32% ABV. The bottle carries the name A. Hauser KG, a small producer based in the village of Fischach in Swabia, a region with a long tradition of herb-based schnapps and bitters. The label itself calls it a genuine "Halbbitter," the milder cousin of a classic German Kräuterbitter, where the raw, bitter herbal edge is toned down in favour of something rounder and easier to drink. The word "bekömmlich" on the label, meaning gentle on the stomach and easy to digest, hints at what the producer was aiming for back then: a bitter you could actually enjoy without wincing. A. Hauser KG no longer exists under that name today, and neither the producer nor the recipe can be traced to any current company. That makes this bottle a small piece of German drinks history rather than something you could simply reorder.

Taste

Without an opened bottle to taste, it's the label and the Halbbitter tradition that speak here. Typical of the style is an aroma of dried herbs and gently bitter bark, mixed with notes of chamomile and pine, both of which actually appear as motifs on the label itself. The flavour of a Halbbitter sits somewhere between a sweet liqueur and a sharp, medicinal bitter: round on the way in, with a dry, herbal finish that doesn't bite too hard. The label's suggestion to serve it well chilled points to a style where the cold tames the bitterness and lets the fresher herbal notes come through.

Specifications

Name: A. Hauser Kräuterbitter
Producer/Distillery: A. Hauser KG, Fischach
Region/Country: Germany (Fischach, Swabia, Bavaria)
Type: German Half-Bitter (Kräuterbitter)
Main ingredient/Flavouring: Select herbs
ABV: 32%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve well chilled

Flavour profile

Bitter · Herbal · Spiced

Did you know?

The hunting horn on the label, surrounded by chamomile, pine and wildflowers, is a classic symbol of "Waidmannsheil," the German hunter's toast. Many old German herbal bitters were originally sold as a hunter's digestif after a day in the woods, and that same imagery still lives on labels like this one.

Some bottles just sit in the back of the cabinet forever, saved for the right occasion, never quite finished off. This is one of those. An old German Kräuterbitter from Fischach, its label so faded it almost tells its own story of the years spent standing there.

Expert description

A. Hauser Kräuterbitter is a German half-bitter from Fischach in Bavaria, made from select herbs and bottled at 32% ABV. The bottle carries the name A. Hauser KG, a small producer based in the village of Fischach in Swabia, a region with a long tradition of herb-based schnapps and bitters. The label itself calls it a genuine "Halbbitter," the milder cousin of a classic German Kräuterbitter, where the raw, bitter herbal edge is toned down in favour of something rounder and easier to drink. The word "bekömmlich" on the label, meaning gentle on the stomach and easy to digest, hints at what the producer was aiming for back then: a bitter you could actually enjoy without wincing. A. Hauser KG no longer exists under that name today, and neither the producer nor the recipe can be traced to any current company. That makes this bottle a small piece of German drinks history rather than something you could simply reorder.

Taste

Without an opened bottle to taste, it's the label and the Halbbitter tradition that speak here. Typical of the style is an aroma of dried herbs and gently bitter bark, mixed with notes of chamomile and pine, both of which actually appear as motifs on the label itself. The flavour of a Halbbitter sits somewhere between a sweet liqueur and a sharp, medicinal bitter: round on the way in, with a dry, herbal finish that doesn't bite too hard. The label's suggestion to serve it well chilled points to a style where the cold tames the bitterness and lets the fresher herbal notes come through.

Specifications

Name: A. Hauser Kräuterbitter
Producer/Distillery: A. Hauser KG, Fischach
Region/Country: Germany (Fischach, Swabia, Bavaria)
Type: German Half-Bitter (Kräuterbitter)
Main ingredient/Flavouring: Select herbs
ABV: 32%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve well chilled

Flavour profile

Bitter · Herbal · Spiced

Did you know?

The hunting horn on the label, surrounded by chamomile, pine and wildflowers, is a classic symbol of "Waidmannsheil," the German hunter's toast. Many old German herbal bitters were originally sold as a hunter's digestif after a day in the woods, and that same imagery still lives on labels like this one.

Somewhere in Milan, not far from the Duomo, a recipe has been locked in a safe since 1845 - accessible to exactly one person in the entire company. Five generations of the Branca family later, that hasn't changed.

Expert Description

Fernet-Branca is an Italian Bitter built on more than 27 herbs, roots and spices, bottled at 42%.

This is not the bottle sitting in your local wine shop's fridge today. It's an older German-market bottling, distributed by Fratelli Branca GmbH in Weinstadt-Großheppach, with Weinbrennerei Jacobi KG named on the label - a period when Fernet-Branca for the German market was bottled at 42% and sold under a label design that has long since been discontinued. The details give it away: the oval "Stammhaus gegr. 1845" seal with the eagle on the globe, the lengthy authenticity text warning against imitations, and the barcode printed at the bottom of the back label.

The liquid inside hasn't changed with the label, though. Rhubarb from China, gentian from France, galangal from India or Sri Lanka, chamomile from Europe and Argentina, myrrh and saffron - ingredients sourced across continents, macerated and distilled, then rested in oak casks for roughly a year before the flavour is allowed to settle.

Taste

The nose is heavy and herbal, with a hint of mint and citrus before the bitterness properly announces itself. On the palate it's dark and complex - myrrh and saffron bring spiced depth, while rhubarb and gentian pull a sharp, clean bitterness through the whole sip. The finish is long, faintly menthol, and dry, with a sweetness that never quite takes over.

Specifications

Name: Fernet-Branca
Producer/Distillery: Fratelli Branca Distillerie S.p.A.
Bottler: Fratelli Branca GmbH, Weinstadt-Großheppach
Region/Country: Milan, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter
Main Ingredients/Flavourings: myrrh, saffron, chamomile, rhubarb, gentian, galangal
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Production Method: Maceration and distillation, aged in oak casks for approximately one year
Edition: Older German bottling, discontinued label design
EAN: 4017500200508

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Herbal · Spiced · Dark and complex

Investment Potential

Medium. This is a discontinued German bottling with an abandoned label design, no longer in production, and it's traded today mostly among retro-spirits collectors.

Did You Know?

Fernet-Branca's recipe exists in exactly one copy, kept in a safe in Milan, and by tradition only the company's chairman is ever allowed to know it in full.

Some bottles wear their age well. This one, its gold-edged label starting to peel at the corners, still carries the story of a classic Italian bitter born in Trentino, long before Aperol Spritz became a summer cliché.

Expert description

Solari Bitter Aperitif is an Italian Bitter Liqueur made from an original Italian recipe and bottled at 25%.

The bottle is a licensed product of Distillerie Sembenotti in Trento, imported to the German market by HAY Markenimport GmbH in Erftstadt. The postal code format on the label (5042) predates Germany's 1993 postcode reform, which places the bottling somewhere in the 1980s or very early 1990s. Solari belongs to the same family of Italian bitter aperitifs as Campari and Aperol — deep red in the glass, rooted in the classic Italian aperitivo tradition where bitter herbal and citrus extracts form the backbone of the flavour.

The label itself carries three serving suggestions straight from the producer, along with an instruction to serve it well chilled.

Specifications

Name: Solari Bitter Aperitif
Bottler: Distillerie Sembenotti
Region/Country: Trentino, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter Liqueur
ABV: 25%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: No
Serving suggestion: Chill well in the fridge before serving. As a long drink: fill a tall glass one-third with Solari, add ice cubes and top up with soda or mineral water. Solari/Orange: fill a glass halfway with ice cubes and orange juice, add a generous splash of Solari and stir lightly.

Did you know?

Distillerie Sembenotti is still family-run in Trento today — in 2020 the Sembenotti brothers also took over the historic Distilleria Alpina, founded in 1930, carrying another old Trentino bitter tradition forward into a new generation.

Some recipes survive wars, border changes and a hundred years of shifting taste. Von Oosten is one of them. It was born in the Netherlands, grew up in Hamburg, and ended up in Denmark, where it's still made the same way it always was.

Expert Description

Von Oosten Bitter is a Danish-Dutch herbal bitter bottled at 36%. The story starts with Simon Levy van Oosten, born in the Netherlands in 1799, who in 1841 moved himself and his bitter to Hamburg, changing the Dutch "van" to the German "von" along the way.

The recipe reached Denmark in the late 19th century, imported in casks from Hamburg and bottled by the Copenhagen wholesale firm Emanuel Møller & Co. In 1908, the firm bought the rights to the name and Danish production together with Marinus Møller & Co. When production in Hamburg shut down during the Second World War and never restarted, Denmark became the only place in the world still making the original Von Oosten Bitter.

This edition is a practical gift box with four 2 cl miniatures, so you can get acquainted with the characteristic flavour without committing to a full bottle.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced and warm, with clear cinnamon and clove mingling with a touch of ripe orange peel.

Palate

Bold and full-bodied, led by juniper and spice, with a soft sweetness keeping the bitterness in check.

Finish

Long and spiced, with lingering cinnamon and a faint herbal note that has earned it cult status among its fans.

Specifications

Name: Von Oosten Bitter 4x2 cl
Distillery: Von Oosten
Type: Bitter
ABV: 36%
Size: 4x2 CL
Natural colour: No
EAN no.: 5727514920437
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature, traditionally as a morning bitter or to warm up on a cold day

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Cinnamon · Clove · Citrus · Juniper

Did You Know?

Back in 1867, Von Oosten was advertised in the Danish newspaper Næstved Tidende as a remedy for "cholera and stomach trouble" - a claim that wouldn't survive a modern label, but one that shows how long the bitter has held a place in Danish cupboards.

See our full range of Von Oosten

Some bottles never get opened, yet they still carry a story every time they land on a shelf. This is one of them — an old, sealed bottle of Campari Bitter, pulled from an era when cocktail recipes were printed straight onto the label, and when "Ausländisches Erzeugnis" was the stamp that told German consumers they were holding the real Italian thing.

Expert's Description

This Campari Bitter is an Italian herb-based aperitif liqueur from Davide Campari Milano, bottled at 25% ABV for the German export market, most likely during the 1960s or 1970s.

The bottle carries the older label reading "Fratelli Campari Successori" and "Davide Campari Milano," and the back of the label prints four classic serving suggestions in German — Campari with soda, Campari with orange juice, Campari on the rocks, and Campari Shakerato. Beneath the cap sits a gold-trimmed foil reading "Davide Campari Milano," a detail typical of Italian export bottlings from that period.

Distribution to the German market was handled by Campari Deutschland GmbH in Munich, clearly stated on the label alongside the era's German import mark, "Ausländisches Erzeugnis." The cap is the old metal screw type, and the bottle appears to be an original, unopened vintage example.

The recipe behind Campari has stayed largely unchanged since Gaspare Campari first put it together in Milan in 1860 — an infusion of herbs, fruit peels, and spices, with only a handful of people at the company knowing the full formula.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bitter orange peel, quinine bark, and a faint caramel sweetness woven through herbal, slightly medicinal notes.

Palate

A firm quinine bitterness balanced by sweetness and a sharp citrus core, with hints of rhubarb, juniper, and a spicy warmth underneath.

Finish

Long and bitter, trailing off with orange peel and a dry, herbal edge.

Specifications

Name: Campari Bitter Vintage 1970s
Distillery: Davide Campari Milano
Region/Country: Milan, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter Liqueur
ABV: 25%
Serving Suggestion: A classic in a Negroni, Campari Soda, or Americano — also good served neat over ice with an orange slice.

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Citrus · Herbal · Spiced

Did You Know?

Campari's original red colour came from carmine dye, extracted from crushed cochineal insects — a practice the brand only dropped in favour of artificial colouring in 2006.

Some bottles wear their age well. This one, its gold-edged label starting to peel at the corners, still carries the story of a classic Italian bitter born in Trentino, long before Aperol Spritz became a summer cliché.

Expert description

Solari Bitter Aperitif is an Italian Bitter Liqueur made from an original Italian recipe and bottled at 25%.

The bottle is a licensed product of Distillerie Sembenotti in Trento, imported to the German market by HAY Markenimport GmbH in Erftstadt. The postal code format on the label (5042) predates Germany's 1993 postcode reform, which places the bottling somewhere in the 1980s or very early 1990s. Solari belongs to the same family of Italian bitter aperitifs as Campari and Aperol — deep red in the glass, rooted in the classic Italian aperitivo tradition where bitter herbal and citrus extracts form the backbone of the flavour.

The label itself carries three serving suggestions straight from the producer, along with an instruction to serve it well chilled.

Specifications

Name: Solari Bitter Aperitif
Bottler: Distillerie Sembenotti
Region/Country: Trentino, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter Liqueur
ABV: 25%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: No
Serving suggestion: Chill well in the fridge before serving. As a long drink: fill a tall glass one-third with Solari, add ice cubes and top up with soda or mineral water. Solari/Orange: fill a glass halfway with ice cubes and orange juice, add a generous splash of Solari and stir lightly.

Did you know?

Distillerie Sembenotti is still family-run in Trento today — in 2020 the Sembenotti brothers also took over the historic Distilleria Alpina, founded in 1930, carrying another old Trentino bitter tradition forward into a new generation.

Some bottles wear their age well. This one, its gold-edged label starting to peel at the corners, still carries the story of a classic Italian bitter born in Trentino, long before Aperol Spritz became a summer cliché.

Expert description

Solari Bitter Aperitif is an Italian Bitter Liqueur made from an original Italian recipe and bottled at 25%.

The bottle is a licensed product of Distillerie Sembenotti in Trento, imported to the German market by HAY Markenimport GmbH in Erftstadt. The postal code format on the label (5042) predates Germany's 1993 postcode reform, which places the bottling somewhere in the 1980s or very early 1990s. Solari belongs to the same family of Italian bitter aperitifs as Campari and Aperol — deep red in the glass, rooted in the classic Italian aperitivo tradition where bitter herbal and citrus extracts form the backbone of the flavour.

The label itself carries three serving suggestions straight from the producer, along with an instruction to serve it well chilled.

Specifications

Name: Solari Bitter Aperitif
Bottler: Distillerie Sembenotti
Region/Country: Trentino, Italy
Type: Italian Bitter Liqueur
ABV: 25%
Size: 70 CL
Natural colour: No
Serving suggestion: Chill well in the fridge before serving. As a long drink: fill a tall glass one-third with Solari, add ice cubes and top up with soda or mineral water. Solari/Orange: fill a glass halfway with ice cubes and orange juice, add a generous splash of Solari and stir lightly.

Did you know?

Distillerie Sembenotti is still family-run in Trento today — in 2020 the Sembenotti brothers also took over the historic Distilleria Alpina, founded in 1930, carrying another old Trentino bitter tradition forward into a new generation.

A distillery in Roskilde had too few orders and risked closing down. The solution became a bitter that today sits on more Danish dinner tables than almost any other spirit.

Expert's description

Gammel Dansk Bitter Dram is a Danish bitter at 38% ABV, bottled at 70 cl.

Development began in 1964 under master blender J.K. Asmund, who as factory manager for Danske Spritfabrikker in Roskilde faced a pressing problem: the distillation plant had too few orders, and the factory needed a new product to survive. Three years later production began, and Gammel Dansk was created as a Danish answer to foreign bitters such as Underberg and Fernet Branca. The bitter is matured with 29 different herbs, spices and flowers, giving it a distinct, dry and aromatic profile with clear notes of herbs, liquorice, citrus and a lightly peppery finish.

Tasting notes

Nose

Herbs and liquorice, with a hint of citrus.

Taste

Intense and bittersweet, with a clear spiced character.

Finish

Dry and lightly peppery, with a warm close.

Specifications

Name: Gammel Dansk Bitter Dram
Distillery: Gammel Dansk
Country/Region: Roskilde, Denmark
Type: Danish Bitter Dram
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 5700359627013
Serving suggestion: Chilled as a morning bitter, or as a spiced addition to cocktails

Flavour profile

Herbs · Liquorice · Citrus · Pepper

Did you know?

Gammel Dansk was originally developed as a Danish answer to foreign bitters like Underberg and Fernet Branca, to save a distillery in Roskilde that had too few orders.

See our full range of Gammel Dansk

An old apothecary bottle, a secret family recipe and half a century of refinement lie behind this bitter. Orange peel, wormwood and gentian root meet a distillate that has itself spent years in cask before it all comes together.

Expert's description

Amaro Bitter Orange Nonino is an Italian amaro made from a herbal infusion enriched with Nonino's own grape distillate UE, cask-aged for at least 12 months and bottled at 35% ABV.

The recipe dates back to 1933, when Antonio Nonino, third generation of the family's distillers, created "Amaro Carnia" with grappa as its base and herbs from the mountains of Friuli. Silvia Nonino, Antonio's wife and the family's first female master distiller, further developed the recipe in the 1940s with botanical ingredients from distant regions and named it "Amaro del Friuli". In 1992, third-generation sisters Cristina, Antonella and Elisabetta Nonino replaced the grappa in the recipe with the family's cask-aged grape distillate UE, and the amaro took on its current name: Amaro Nonino Quintessentia.

The base is UE, Nonino's own grape distillate, distilled using the same artisanal method as the house's grappa and aged for at least 12 months in casks of Nevers, Limousin and ex-sherry oak. The family's secret herbal infusion is then added, including orange peel, gentian root, wormwood, galangal root, cassia bark and saffron. The bottle is shaped like an old apothecary bottle, a nod to the amaro's origins as a medicinal remedy.

Tasting notes

Nose

Orange peel and bitter orange marmalade, spiced with thyme and a touch of mint, plus an exotic hint of mango.

Taste

On the palate, sweetness and bitterness meet in fine balance, with clear pepper and liquorice, carried by the warmth of the cask-aged grape distillate.

Finish

The finish is long, with cocoa and a final, dry bitterness that rounds off the experience.

Specifications

Name: Amaro Bitter Orange Nonino
Distillery: Nonino
Region/Country: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Type: Italian Amaro
ABV: 35%
Size: 70 cl
Distillation method: 100 percent distilled using an artisanal method in copper stills
Serving suggestion: On the rocks with an orange slice, or in the Paper Plane cocktail

Flavour profile

Bitter orange · Thyme · Pepper · Liquorice · Cocoa

Did you know?

The cocktail "Paper Plane", created by bartender Sam Ross in New York in 2007 with this amaro as one of four equal parts, was named a modern classic by the New York Times in 2016.

See our full range of Amaro

Since 1846, the small bottle in yellow straw paper has found its way to dinner tables around the world, always with the same promise of a settled stomach after the meal.

Expert description

Underberg Miniature 1846 Collection is a German bitter at 44% ABV from the family-owned Underberg house, which since 1846 has brewed its herbal bitter from a secret blend of herbs sourced from 43 countries. This edition gathers 12 of the distinctive 2 cl bottles in a handsome metal box under the name "1846 Collection", a tribute to the founding year. Each small bottle is still individually wrapped, ready to be shared or enjoyed as a digestif after a heavy meal.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intensely herbal and bitter, with root and spice tones.

Palate

Powerful and bitter with a hint of citrus.

Finish

Dry, herbally bitter and long-lasting.

Specifications

Name: Underberg Miniature 1846 Collection
Distillery: Underberg
Country/Region: Germany, Rheinberg
Type: German Bitter
ABV: 44%
Size: 12 x 2 CL
Serving suggestion: Drink chilled as a digestif, straight from the bottle after a meal.

Flavour profile

Herbal bitter · Spiced · Intense

Did you know?

The name "1846 Collection" refers to the year the Underberg family first brewed its herbal bitter, a recipe still kept secret today.

See our full range of Underberg

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Underberg Metal Tin – Underberg Miniature 1846 Stammhaus in Rheinberg Metal Tin Germany Bitter 12 x 2 cl 44%

Underberg Bitter in a beautifully designed metal tin – here in the “Underberg Stammhaus in Rheinberg” edition. The world‑famous German bitter, made with herbs from 43 countries, is loved by many. Enjoy your 12 bottles of Underberg Bitter together with good friends.

Distillery: Underberg
Type: German bitter
ABV: 44%
12 x 2 cl
Podcast:

On Bornholm, a cold beer and a small bitter on the side belong together, a tradition still alive in every bodega on the island.

Expert description

Bornholmer Sidevogn is a Danish bitter at 32% ABV from Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik, whose history stretches back to the steam distillery in Hasle from 1855. The distillery closed after the First World War but was revived in Nexø in 1994, and Sidevogn is the house’s tribute to Danish bodega culture, where a bitter and a beer traditionally go hand in hand. The name refers to exactly this custom, the bitter as the "sidecar" to the cold pilsner.

Tasting notes

Nose

Citrus and spice with a light sweetness in the background.

Palate

Spiced and pleasant, where citrus and a discreet sweetness play together.

Finish

Mild with an edge, without turning sharp.

Specifications

Name: Bornholmer Sidevogn
Distillery: Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik
Country/Region: Denmark, Bornholm
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 32%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled as an aperitif, digestif, or classic sidecar to a cold beer.

Flavour profile

Citrus · Spiced · Round

Did you know?

The term "sidevogn" (sidecar) is borrowed from the world of motorcycles and used in bodega slang for the small bitter that accompanies the big beer.

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A single small bottle can easily hold both a cup of coffee and a herbal bitter at once.

Expert description

Underberg Espresso Herbtini is a German bitter at 27% ABV in a single 2 cl bottle, a newer variant from the family-owned house that has brewed its classic herbal bitter from herbs sourced in 43 countries since 1846. The Herbtini version combines the familiar herbal character with an intense espresso flavour, making it both a digestif and a handy ingredient for cocktails with a twist.

Tasting notes

Nose

Roasted coffee and bitterly herbal tones.

Palate

Rich espresso balanced against the bitter herbs.

Finish

Coffee-rich and lightly bitter.

Specifications

Name: Underberg Espresso Herbtini
Distillery: Underberg
Country/Region: Germany, Rheinberg
Type: German Bitter with Espresso Flavour
ABV: 27%
Size: 2 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled as a digestif, or use in cocktails for a twist.

Flavour profile

Espresso · Herbal bitter · Rich

Did you know?

The small 2 cl bottle makes it easy to try Espresso Herbtini without having to invest in a full box.

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After 170 years with the same recipe, the Underberg family has found something new to say, a cup of coffee meets the familiar herbal bitter.

Expert description

Underberg Espresso Herbtini is a German bitter at 27% ABV, a newer variant from the family-owned house that has brewed its classic herbal bitter from herbs sourced in 43 countries since 1846. The Herbtini version adds an intense espresso flavour to the familiar herbal character, giving a milder alcohol strength and a taste that sits somewhere between digestif and coffee liqueur. The box holds 12 individually wrapped 2 cl bottles, ideal for gifting or introducing several people to the new flavour at once.

Tasting notes

Nose

Roasted coffee and bitterly herbal tones.

Palate

Rich espresso balanced against the bitter herbs.

Finish

Coffee-rich and lightly bitter.

Specifications

Name: Underberg Espresso Herbtini
Distillery: Underberg
Country/Region: Germany, Rheinberg
Type: German Bitter with Espresso Flavour
ABV: 27%
Size: 12 x 2 CL
EAN no.: 4034100001120
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled as a digestif, or use in cocktails for a twist.

Flavour profile

Espresso · Herbal bitter · Rich

Did you know?

The name Herbtini is a blend of "herbs" and "martini", a hint that the drink is also meant to feature in cocktails.

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Milan, 1845. A self-taught herbalist blends 27 secret ingredients into a bitter so dark and complex that the recipe remains a closely guarded family secret to this day.

Expert Description

Fernet Branca Miniature Italian Bitter is an Italian Bitter from Fratelli Branca, bottled at 39% in a handy 10cl bottle.

It all began with Bernardino Branca, a self-taught herbalist who in 1845 created a bitter from 27 different herbs and spices sourced from around the world, a recipe that has never been published since. His sons Luigi, Giuseppe and Stefano later took over the business and built it into the institution it is today. In 1905, the bottle received its now-iconic trademark, an eagle with outstretched wings gripping a bottle above the globe.

This miniature bottle carries the exact same recipe and strength as the full 70cl bottle, just in a format that is perfect for tasting your way in or taking along on the road.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark, dry herbs with a hint of liquorice and orange peel, underpinned by a deep, almost medicinal bitterness.

Palate

Intensely bitter from the first sip, with notes of myrrh and cinnamon. A warm, golden spiciness, likely from saffron, mingles with a touch of menthol.

Finish

Long and dry, with a trace of root and herbs that lingers on the palate.

Specifications

Name: Fernet Branca Miniature Italian Bitter
Distillery: Fratelli Branca
Region/Country: Italy, Milan
Type: Italian Bitter
ABV: 39%
Size: 10cl
EAN no.: 8004400013044
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed ice-cold as a digestif, on its own or with a splash of cola

Flavour Profile

Bitter · Herbal · Spiced · Dark

Did You Know?

Fernet Branca actually sells more in Argentina than in its home country of Italy. The fernet con coca combination has become a true national drink there, and the country alone accounts for the vast majority of global sales.

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A Bornholm secret that was never written down can easily be shared in three small sips.

Expert description

Bornholmer Dram Miniature SevaBlødda is a Danish bitter at 40% ABV, here split across three 2 cl bottles from Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik. Behind the cinnamon-spiced cherry dram lies a recipe over 100 years old, rooted in Nexø’s ship provisioning traditions, where workers got their "blødda" during ship haul-outs on the slipway. The miniatures are made for sharing among friends, a small taste of a big Bornholm story.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cherry and cinnamon.

Palate

Warm and spiced with clear cherry.

Finish

Lightly sweet and warm.

Specifications

Name: Bornholmer Dram SevaBlødda
Distillery: Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik
Country/Region: Denmark, Bornholm
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 40%
Size: 3 x 2 CL
EAN no.: 5703397002163
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled as a small warm dram for several.

Flavour profile

Cherry · Cinnamon · Warm

Did you know?

The miniatures are a handy way to introduce friends to SevaBlødda, without having to open the full ceramic bottle.

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There is a Danish bitter that does not try to be anything other than what it is, round, sweet and with a clear touch of aniseed.

Expert description

1-Enkelt Miniature is a Danish bitter at 35% ABV, launched in 2001 after thorough flavour development aimed at the Danish market. The recipe holds 9 spices in total, with aniseed and liquorice leading both aroma and taste, while plant roots add depth and citrus peel lays a fresh base under the sweetness. Since launch, 1-Enkelt has established itself as one of Denmark’s best-selling bitters, and this 2 cl miniature is the perfect size to get to know its round, balanced flavour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Sweet aniseed and a hint of citrus.

Palate

Round and lightly sweet, with liquorice and aniseed up front.

Finish

Mild and lightly bitter, without sharp edges.

Specifications

Name: 1-Enkelt Miniature Danish Bitter
Distillery: 1-Enkelt
Country/Region: Denmark
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 35%
Size: 2 CL
EAN no.: 5710778001189
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled as a single shot or digestif.

Flavour profile

Aniseed · Liquorice · Round

Did you know?

Since its launch, 1-Enkelt has grown into one of the most popular bitters in Denmark, scoring well with both men and women in taste tests.

Spirits have been made on the Danish island of Bornholm since 1855, with one long break when the island spent almost 70 years without a distillery of its own. Today the craft lives on in Nexø, where Bornholmer Bitter is made in the old tradition.

Expert Description

Bornholmer Dansk Bitter is a Danish Bitter from Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik, bottled at 38%.

The bitter builds on the island’s long tradition of schnapps and bitters. The old steam distillery in Hasle was built in 1855 but closed shortly after the First World War, and for decades the Bornholmer name was kept alive elsewhere. It was not until 1994 that Bornholm got its own distillery back, when Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik was re-established in Nexø. Bornholmer Bitter is now one of the distillery’s core products alongside its aquavits, crafted as a rounded, easy-drinking bitter meant for a broad audience rather than a sharp, niche style, a lunch-table classic.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Rowan berries and a faint hint of cinnamon sit over a soft, herbal aroma.

Palate

Rounded and characterful with a mild bitterness, where rowan berries and spice balance against a light sweetness.

Finish

Short and mild, closing with a last touch of sweetness that rounds the taste off nicely.

Specifications

Name: Bornholmer Dansk Bitter
Distillery: Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik
Region/Country: Denmark, Bornholm
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 38%
Size: 70cl
EAN no.: 5703397100708
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled as a shot, ideally with herring and the Danish lunch table

Flavour Profile

Mild bitter · Rowan berry · Spiced · Rounded

Did You Know?

Bornholm went almost 70 years without a distillery of its own after the steam distillery in Hasle closed right after the First World War. It was not until 1994 that the island got its own spirits factory again, this time in Nexø.

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From a basement in Vesterbro has grown a new take on the Danish bitter tradition, more elegant than the rugged classic, yet still holding on to its warmth.

Expert's description

Michael Bitter is a Danish bitter at 33% ABV, bottled at 50 cl by Bad Company Spirits.

Behind the brand stands Jens Lund, who started the company Bad Company in a basement in Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Michael Bitter is made from organic Danish ingredients and pays tribute to the Danish bitter tradition with a nuanced range of ingredients, including angelica root, orris root, tomato flakes, linden blossom and lemon verbena. The result is a bitter that tastes more elegant than the classic, powerful styles while still delivering the expected warmth. The bitter also works excellently in the classic drink Brandbil, which Bad Company Spirits has given a fresh new twist under the name La Babu, ideally with a touch of lime for acidity.

Tasting notes

Nose

Floral linden blossom with a hint of citrus from the verbena.

Taste

Elegant and rounded, with root vegetables, a light tomato sweetness and a gentle warmth.

Finish

Soft and light, without the sharp bitterness of the classic styles.

Specifications

Name: Michael Bitter Danish Bitter
Distillery: Bad Company Spirits
Country/Region: Copenhagen, Denmark
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 33%
Size: 50 cl
Serving suggestion: In the drink La Babu, a fresh take on Brandbil, ideally with a touch of lime

Flavour profile

Linden blossom · Citrus · Root vegetables · Mild warmth

Did you know?

Michael Bitter is made from organic Danish ingredients and is used by Bad Company Spirits as the base for La Babu, their fresh take on the classic drink Brandbil.

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In the cellars of the Zwack family in Budapest stand casks that have aged herbal liqueur for more than 85 years. In one of them, Unicum Riserva takes on its first layer of character, before it gains a second from a completely different world, the Hungarian Tokaj wine region.

Expert Description

Unicum Riserva Double Aged Herbal Liqueur is a Herbal Liqueur from Zwack, finished in Tokaji wine casks and bottled at 40%.

Unicum Riserva is the Zwack family’s super-premium take on the classic Unicum, and it stands apart through its double ageing process. The first stage takes place in the largest and oldest oak cask in Zwack’s cellar, a cask that over decades has developed a thick coating the family calls "black honey", lending the liqueur extra depth. From there, the herbal liqueur is moved into casks from Izabella Zwack’s Dobogó winery, previously used to age Tokaji wine. This gives Unicum Riserva a softer, more fruit-driven character, with a hint of dried apricot layered over the familiar bittersweet Unicum taste.

The Unicum name is said to date back to 1790, when the family’s court physician reportedly offered Emperor Joseph II his home-made herbal liqueur. The company itself was founded in 1840, and the round bottle with the red cross remains one of Hungary’s most recognisable spirits brands today.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot and honey intertwine with bitter herbs and a touch of warm oak.

Palate

Bittersweet with a deep herbal character, where the second maturation in the Tokaji cask brings a soft, almost wine-like sweetness and notes of raisin.

Finish

Long and lightly bitter, with a warm trail of honey and ripe fruit that fades slowly.

Specifications

Name: Unicum Riserva Double Aged Herbal Liqueur
Distillery: Zwack
Region/Country: Hungary, Budapest
Type: Herbal Liqueur
ABV: 40%
Size: 70cl
Cask type: Oak cask, finished in Tokaji wine cask
EAN no.: 5995099442204
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled as a digestif, ideally after a meal

Flavour Profile

Bittersweet · Herbal · Fruity · Rounded

Did You Know?

According to the family’s own story, the Unicum name traces back to Emperor Joseph II, who after tasting the herbal liqueur is said to have exclaimed "Das ist ein Unikum!", meaning "This is one of a kind!", unwittingly coining the name of one of Hungary’s most famous products.

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A single small bottle, wrapped in yellow paper, can hold more comfort for the stomach than most tablets from the pharmacy.

Expert description

Underberg Miniature is a German bitter at 44% ABV in the classic 2 cl bottle, brewed by the family-owned house that has held onto its secret recipe of herbs from 43 countries since 1846. The small bottle is the house’s most recognisable format, meant to be drunk in one go as a quick digestif when the stomach needs a little help after a heavy meal.

Tasting notes

Nose

Intensely herbal and bitter, with root tones.

Palate

Powerful and bitter, compact in the small volume.

Finish

Dry and long-lasting herbal bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Underberg Miniature
Distillery: Underberg
Country/Region: Germany, Rheinberg
Type: German Bitter
ABV: 44%
Size: 2 CL
EAN no.: 40341002
Serving suggestion: Drink chilled in one go, straight from the bottle.

Flavour profile

Herbal bitter · Spiced · Intense

Did you know?

The Underberg bottle is so recognisable it is often simply called "the little yellow bottle", even though the paper is technically straw-yellow, not the glass itself.

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A cold mouthful of mint, wrapped in the same dark heritage as the whole Branca family.

Expert description

Fernet Branca Menta Miniature is an Italian liqueur at 28% ABV in a small 2 cl bottle. It is built on the base recipe Bernardino Branca put together in Milan in 1845, with peppermint oil added for a cool, refreshing twist. The small size makes it perfect for taking along, sharing out, or using as a single tasting pour, without having to open the full bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh mint over a bitterly herbal base.

Palate

Cool and tangy, with a hint of citrus and bitter herbs.

Finish

Menthol-fresh with a dry, herbally bitter close.

Specifications

Name: Fernet Branca Menta Miniature Italian Liqueur
Distillery: Fernet Branca
Country/Region: Italy, Milan
Type: Italian Liqueur (Menta)
ABV: 28%
Size: 2 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy ice-cold as a single digestif shot.

Flavour profile

Mint · Cool · Herbal bitter

Did you know?

Because the bottle holds only 2 cl, it is ideal for giving several guests a taste of the Menta version without opening a full bottle.

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Sometimes an entire world of flavour fits in the palm of your hand.

Expert description

Fernet Branca Miniature is an Italian bitter at 39% ABV in pocket format, made to the recipe Bernardino Branca composed in Milan in 1845 with 27 different herbs and secret spices. The small 2 cl bottle carries the same iconic eagle trademark as its 70 cl big sister, and is perfect for tasting, travelling, or setting out as a small pour at the table.

Tasting notes

Nose

Bitter herbs, dark liquorice and a touch of citrus peel.

Palate

Rich and spiced with saffron and rhubarb, concentrated into a single sip.

Finish

Short but intense and dry.

Specifications

Name: Fernet Branca Miniature Italian Bitter
Distillery: Fernet Branca
Country/Region: Italy, Milan
Type: Italian Bitter
ABV: 39%
Size: 2 CL
EAN no.: 80453727
Serving suggestion: Enjoy as a single digestif shot, best served cold.

Flavour profile

Herbal bitter · Liquorice · Intense

Did you know?

The miniature bottle is a popular welcome gift at restaurants in Italy, where guests often round off a meal with this very size.

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Some stories are too good to fit in just 2 cl, this one gets a little more room.

Expert description

Bornholmer Dram Miniature SevaBlødda is a Danish bitter at 40% ABV in a 5 cl take on the well-known ceramic bottle from Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik. The cinnamon-spiced cherry dram is built on a recipe over 100 years old, rooted in Nexø’s ship provisioning traditions, where thirsty workers got their "blødda" during ship haul-outs. This size gives a little more to share, without having to invest in the full 50 cl bottle.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cherry and warm cinnamon.

Palate

Spiced and full-bodied with clear cherry.

Finish

Warm and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Bornholmer Dram SevaBlødda
Distillery: Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik
Country/Region: Denmark, Bornholm
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 40%
Size: 5 CL
EAN no.: 57095059
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled as a warm, spiced dram.

Flavour profile

Cherry · Cinnamon · Spiced

Did you know?

The story of SevaBlødda was first told publicly in 1964, a full 55 years after police officer Axel Niebe first observed the tradition in Nexø.

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In 1909 a police officer in Nexø kept watch over something he did not reveal until 55 years later, the story of a dram so local its recipe was never written down.

Expert description

Bornholmer Dram SevaBlødda is a Danish bitter at 40% ABV from Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik, made to a recipe over 100 years old that originally sat in the category "no recipe left behind". The story is told by police officer Axel Niebe from Nexø, who in 1909 watched how the firewood and ship provisioning firm H.S. Munch made "ejn soder syp" for the thirsty dockworkers, who got their "blødda" whenever the slipway was greased with soap during ship haul-outs. The officer only revealed the story in 1964. The dram is bottled in a distinctive retro ceramic bottle and is a cinnamon-spiced cherry dram with a warm, unique flavour.

Tasting notes

Nose

Cinnamon and ripe cherries.

Palate

Spiced and warm, with cherry at the centre and a clear cinnamon note.

Finish

Warm and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Bornholmer Dram SevaBlødda
Distillery: Den Bornholmske Spritfabrik
Country/Region: Denmark, Bornholm
Type: Danish Bitter
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 5703397100586
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled as a warm, spiced dram.

Flavour profile

Cherry · Cinnamon · Spiced

Did you know?

The Bornholm saying about SevaBlødda goes: "Dænj ska drikkes te enj kanj saj Sevablødda ræjtit", meaning it should be drunk until you can say Sevablødda properly.

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In Riga, people have warmed a black balsam in their hands before drinking it since 1752, a liquid secret said to have once saved a Russian empress from stomach trouble. This edition adds ripe cherries to the old formula.

Expert's description

Riga Black Balsam Cherry Bitter is a Latvian herbal bitter at 30% ABV, bottled at 70 cl.

The base formula dates back to 1752, when pharmacist Abraham Kunze in Riga created a medicinal tonic drawing on balsam recipes that already had roots stretching back to the 1500s. Legend has it that the balsam saved Catherine the Great herself from stomach troubles during a visit to the city. The recipe holds 24 ingredients, including birch shoots, raspberry, ginger, black peppercorns, peppermint, lemon leaves and honey, most of them botanicals that are infused before being blended and rested in large oak barrels. Today only the distillery's Head Liquor Master and his two apprentices know the exact ratios. The Cherry edition builds on that dark herbal base with a clear cherry character, giving a sweeter, more approachable route into Riga Black Balsam.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe cherries and dark herbs side by side.

Taste

Sweetness and bitterness in harmonious balance, with a clear underlying cherry note.

Finish

Medium length, herbal, with cherry lingering to the last.

Specifications

Name: Riga Black Balsam Cherry Bitter
Distillery: Riga Black Balsam
Country/Region: Riga, Latvia
Type: Herbal Bitter
ABV: 30%
Size: 70 cl
EAN no.: 4750021004858
Serving suggestion: On the rocks, with cola or soda water, or as a cocktail base

Flavour profile

Cherry · Herbs · Sweetness · Bitterness

Did you know?

Legend has it that the original Riga Black Balsam cured Catherine the Great of stomach trouble during a visit to Riga.

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