Scarlet "Aperitivo" Bitter Liqueur (700ml)
Review Date: 04/2026
Everything this place makes is fantastic. It's just super amazing really high end versions of your favorite amari. This is the Campari analogue, inspired by vintage Campari, and it's just pretty perfect. It has this depth and roundness that's just whacky in how finely tuned it is. There's cola, grapefruit zest, citron, Satsuma, and maybe Gentian all on the nose, it's so vivid and complex and just downright interesting. Fantastic mouthfeel and texture on the palate, really great depth with a lot of the same notes showing, there's more kind of a spiciness on the palate with clove, cinnamon, lots of citrus, vanilla, and then then a lingering finish with bitterness vying with sweetness and acidity and finding nothing but balance in the end. This makes me happy on a profound and deep level.
Product Availability
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Notes
Iseya Distillery is easily one of the most exciting distillers anywhere in the world. The brainchild of legendary bartender Tatsuya "Moto" Motonaga, his love of all things bitters drew him to visit more than 70 distillers across Europe to gain knowledge of their techniques and processes. When he returned to Japan he built a small distillery in Kanagawa prefecture. The distillery, a 100 year old farmhouse, adjoins the fields where Moto grows botanicals for his exceptional amari. Their flagship product, Scarlet Aperitivo, uses 25 botanicals mostly grown on the farm to recreate the 1970's style of Italian red bitter in the most honest possible way. The depth of flavor and complexity is unmatched by classic or modern recipes making it one of the finest products being created anywhere in the world.
Product Details
Origin: Japan
Type/Varietal: Other Distilled Spirits
Alcohol Content: 28%
SKU: #1784809