Casoni 1814 Aperitivo Liqueur

Casoni 1814 Aperitivo Liqueur comes from a family distillery in Finale Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, that's been following the same botanical recipe since 1814—decades before the negroni was even invented. Unlike most modern aperitivi that rely on artificial coloring and flavor shortcuts, Casoni still macerates whole herbs, fruits, and seeds the traditional way, extracting flavor through time rather than chemistry. At 11% alcohol, it's lighter than Campari or Aperol, which makes it exceptionally versatile for afternoon drinking or building spritzes that won't overpower you before dinner. The Casoni family has been distilling in this corner of Emilia-Romagna for over two centuries, and their approach hasn't changed much. They macerate bitter orange peel, rhubarb, gentian root, and a blend of botanicals in neutral spirit, then let the infusion develop slowly before bottling. The process is patient and analog, with no artificial colorants or flavor extracts—just whole ingredients and time. The result is a bittersweet liqueur that sits somewhere between Campari's aggressive bitterness and Aperol's candy sweetness, occupying a middle ground that plays well with both citrus and sparkling wine without leaning too hard in either direction. The flavor profile skews semisweet with a gentle herbal backbone—bitter orange peel, rhubarb, and a whisper of gentian root balanced by fruity undertones that keep things refreshing rather than medicinal. It's softer and more approachable than Campari, but with more complexity than Aperol, making it an excellent swap in a negroni if you want something less bracing or a natural fit for a classic spritz with Prosecco and soda. It also works beautifully with tonic and a fat grapefruit wedge, especially when you want something cold and botanical without the full wallop of a gin and tonic. Because of that lower ABV, Casoni makes sense for lazy Sunday sessions or pre-dinner aperitivo hour when you're pacing yourself. Pair it with salty snacks—marcona almonds, castelvetrano olives, prosciutto-wrapped breadsticks—anything that'll coax out the citrus and herbal notes. Available at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.