Bitters and aperitifs are good for more than cocktails: plenty of people sip them straight or build an aperitivo hour at home. If you want to stock a home bar with something worth drinking, here are four bottles from our shelves at Off Premise, with the prices as listed in our shop today.
Fernet-Branca dates to 1845 in Milan and is made from 27 herbs and other ingredients. It is intensely bitter and herbal, which is why people either love it or avoid it. Sip it cold as a digestif or use a small measure in a stirred cocktail.
Bordiga Aperitivo comes in a 1 liter bottle, so you get more to work with than a standard 750ml for about the same money. Pour it over ice with a slice of orange, build a spritz with it, or try it in an aperitivo-style cocktail.
Vermouth is fortified wine, and it deserves better than the dusty bottle at the back of the cabinet. Serve Mata Tinto over ice with a twist and a splash of soda for a simple aperitivo, or use it in a Negroni. Like any wine-based product, vermouth keeps best in the refrigerator once opened.
If you live in Chicago, you have heard of Malört. It is a bäsk-style spirit built around wormwood, and its bitterness is famous. Jeppson's Malört is a Chicago brand, and it is made in Chicago today. Some people call it an acquired taste; some people never acquire it. At $30, the price of finding out which side you are on is low. Try a small measure in a whiskey sour.
We're at 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park. Come in and ask us for help building a bar, or order online for pickup.
Shop now →