James Bond is known for a Martini, but he started out with a different drink all together. As many aficionados of the globe trotting spy will tell you, James Bond was actually originally known for the Vesper. Unlike it’s gin based cousin, the Vesper dropped vermouth and added vodka and Kina Lillet. Kina Lillet, a fortified wine with a bitter edge from the addition of Kina, later was reformulated to remove the bitter Kina element. As a result, Vespers were lack a key ingredient, until the arrival of Aperitivo Cocchi Americano.
Aperitivo Cocchi Americano
Sight: A pale yellow hue, bordering on gold, tinged with a hint of green.
Smell: There’s a burst of citrus notes that a slowly infringed upon by numerous herbal notes creeping in. A subtle but persistent sweetness, like that of fresh pressed white grapes lingers in the background, playing host to touches of wet stone and a touch of woodsy herb.
Sip: There’s an instant pop of brightness followed by a sweet white grape and viscous body. Citrus oil comes through, particularly hints of oranges, kumquats, and lemons with a hint of bitter pith. The herbal notes linger gently, make their presence known, but not felt.
Savor: On the finish, the delicate bitterness finally pulls to the forefront, leaving a slightly citrusy bitter finish that lingers pleasingly with a mild coating nature.
I would be lying if I told you that I thought Aperitivo Cocchi Americano was anything less than lovely. The delicate flavors of citrus and herb layer pleasantly over the white wine background. Nothing is imposing, least of all the bitterness. There is a wonderful balance between bitter and sweet that helps to make it so beautifully balanced. As a result, it checks a lot of the boxes to fit well in cocktails.
In Cocktails
With the end of Kina Lillet, Aperitivo Cocchi Americano is your best bet for classics like the Corpse Reviver #2 and Vesper. Thanks to a decent acidity and the bitter-sweet nature of this fortified wine, you’ll find it plays particularly well in applications where you might consider vermouth. The Vesper being a close relation to the Martini demonstrates this particularly well, allowing the citrus notes to come through while giving complimentary sweet and bitter notes to the gin. It also makes a great highball to just enjoy on it’s own.
Aperitivo Cocchi Americano in Review
Overall, Aperitivo Cocchi Americano is beautifully constructed and just the right mix of bitter and sweet to make it a lovely partner for cocktails. Bottles will expire as this is fortified wine, but at around $20 you won’t find it more preventative than vermouth. If you happen to like aromatic wines, then Cocchi Americano is worth the search.
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