Bordiga Aperitivo 1L

Bordiga Aperitivo is an artisanal Italian bitter liqueur made entirely in-house at the Bordiga distillery in Piedmont, with no purchased infusions or outsourced components. At 16% alcohol by volume, it sits in the classic aperitivo style—moderately bitter, moderately sweet, built to stimulate appetite rather than overpower the palate. The predominant flavors come from aromatic mountain herbs, bitter orange peel, and Chinese rhubarb root, a trio that delivers complexity beyond the commercial standard set by Aperol. Bordiga has been distilling in Cuneo, at the foot of the Maritime Alps in northwest Italy, since 1888. The family operation controls every step: maceration of botanicals, distillation in small copper pot stills, blending, and bottling. The rhubarb root they use is Rheum palmatum, prized in European herbal traditions for its bitterness and astringency, and it anchors the liqueur's backbone alongside gentian and wormwood. Citrus oils from Sicilian bitter oranges add brightness, while a restrained sugar dosage keeps the sweetness in balance. No artificial colors, no industrial shortcuts—just the ingredients and the time they need to integrate. The flavor opens with orange zest and herbal bitterness, then rhubarb's earthy tang appears mid-palate, finishing clean and dry enough to drink before a meal. Mix it three-to-two-to-one with Prosecco and soda water over ice for a Spritz, the aperitif that defined northern Italian summer drinking, or pour two ounces over ice with a long splash of soda and an orange slice for a low-proof opener. It pairs especially well with cured meats, olives, aged cheeses, and anything salty or fatty that benefits from a bitter counterpoint. The one-liter format means you can keep a bottle in regular rotation without running dry mid-party. Bordiga Aperitivo is available for pickup at Off Premise Chicago, 1128 W Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park, with local Chicago delivery and nationwide shipping.