Bitters - Luxardo Fernet
Girolamo Luxardo, Torreglia, Italy
Luxardo Fernet Bitters
Girolamo Luxardo, Torreglia, Italy
Importer: Preiss Imports, Ramona, California
PROOF: 90 (45%)
TYPE: Bitters Type 2 Herbal/Fruit
AGE: N/A
PRICE: $28.00 - 750 ML
Notes: Made with a number of different herbs, the primaries being chichona, cardamom orange, angostura, enzian, and gentian. In business since 1821, Luxardo has a long tradition of making all sorts of various liqueurs almost all of them winning high praise from various organizations and individuals in the trade.
First Impression: Aromatic bitter licorice with earthy, herbal and spicy notes, wrapping even more bitter. Smells like a witches herb cabinet.
Appearance: Dark cola or betel nut color - a very striking red and unmistakable in a drink. On swirling, leaves a coating on the glass with many long thin legs developing.
Taste: Heavy oily entry with a bitter bitter, intensely alkaline taste, bitter cherry, woodruff, rosemary, lemon, gentian, quinine, cassia, cardamom, cinnamon, orris root, tansy, angelica, fennel, wormwood, enzian.
Drinks: Not sure what to do with this except over ice. Good as a digestiv. Bitter enough to use in small dashes in drinks calling for other types of bitters.
Bottle: Clear glass bottle, cylindrical with a rounded shoulder 3/4 of the way up and a slightly large neck with a bright red screwtop closure. Simple paper label and a medallion / pommel stamping on the shoulder make it easier to find. Red screwcap and neckwrap.
Final Thoughts:
Bitter enough to threaten small children with if they misbehave.
Website: http://www.luxardo.it/
Relatively quick loading website with descriptions of their considerable portfolio.