Select Aperitivo Liqueur

Appearance (neat): Ruby red. Appearance (diluted): Bright red Aroma (neat): Thyme, sage, red grapes, potpourri, citrus peel, lavender and violet. An earthy root-extract and seed spice note. Flavour (neat): Sweet citrus and herbal notes with a full spicy quality. Quite a rich taste of citrus peel, but it’s sweet citrus, not bitter and is supported by some excellent sweet berry notes. There is a definite bitter quality but I believe that is coming from gentian. Very pleasant neat or just on the rocks and there is a more distinct dry bitterness in the aftertaste than with other aperitivo. Flavour (with prosecco): Very well balanced between bitter, sour and sweet with some fine warm herbal tones. Overall, in comparison to its closest rival, Aperol, Select displays a more elegant, aloof and bitter profile. It does not have the immediately entrancing citrus fruit-bowl character of Aperol, but instead relies on a more “grapey” quality and a richer type of herbal bitterness. On the other hand it is not nearly as outright bitter as Campari. Absolutely delightful, and to my mind anyway one of the finest aperitivo. If an Aperol spritz is something to enjoy relaxing in a beach chair at the seaside, the natural home of a Select spritz is at a café in the glorious Piazza San Marco, the “drawing room of Europe” (which Napoleon probably didn’t say, but he should have). Why is my review the first one here, and why is there no official review? Wake up, Distiller crew. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Fragrant orange peel and bitter herbs on the nose. A semi-sweet entry on the palate that quickly expands into a mouthwatering bitterness. The body is semi-viscous and the finish goes on for nearly five minutes. A very well done aperitivo absolutely built for a spritz, olive garnish or not. Cin-cin!

If Aperol is too sweet, and Campari is too bitter, this is the perfect in between!

A pleasant Aperitivo that balances sweetness and bitterness for an Italian Spritz

I PREFER IT OVER CAMPARI.