Strucchi Bitter Bianco Italy 70 cl 27%

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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Frequently Asked Questions about Strucchi Bitter Bianco

What does Strucchi Bitter Bianco taste like?

It's straw-yellow, bright and bittersweet – grapefruit and mandarin on the nose, bitter orange and hops on the palate, and a long, floral finish of gentian, clary sage and galangal.

What's the difference between Strucchi Bitter Bianco and Strucchi Bitter Rosso?

Bitter Rosso is the heavier, deep-red version built on rhubarb root, gentian and cinchona bark. Bitter Bianco is lighter and more citrus-driven, built on grapefruit, mandarin and wild fennel with fewer of the heavier herbal notes. Both come from the same house, but Bianco is made for the lighter, more summery drink.

What cocktails work with Strucchi Bitter Bianco?

It's built for a White Negroni, where it gives the classic a brighter, more citrus-fresh twist, but it also works well in a Spritz or Sbagliato Bianco – or simply over ice with a slice of citrus. See our classic Negroni recipe as a starting point.

Can Strucchi Bitter Bianco replace Aperol or Campari?

Yes, it can easily step in wherever you'd normally reach for Aperol or Campari. It's less sweet than Aperol and less sharply red-bitter than Campari – the flavour sits somewhere in between, leaning more on citrus and florals.

Should Strucchi Bitter Bianco be served cold?

Over ice is the simplest way to enjoy it, ideally with a slice of grapefruit or orange. For a cocktail, shake or stir it into the ice along with the other ingredients. See our range of cocktail equipment.

Who is behind Strucchi Bitter Bianco?

Bitter Bianco comes from the Italian house Strucchi, founded by gin-maker Paolo Dalla Mora, who built the range around the work of Piedmontese oenologist Arnaldo Strucchi on vermouth back in 1907. Bitter Bianco is the newest addition to the family, which otherwise counts three vermouths and the red Bitter Rosso.

How many botanicals are in Strucchi Bitter Bianco?

15 in total, including grapefruit, mandarin, wild fennel, bitter orange, hops, cardamom, liquorice, gentian, clary sage and galangal. That combination is what gives the bitter its pale, citrus-driven character.