Contratto Aperitif (1L, 13.5%)

An Italian bitter aperitivo from Contratto, the Canelli house founded in 1867. It follows the house's 1935 recipe, revived from the original 1930s spirits range. Twenty-eight botanicals are cold-extracted for 35 days in a base of grape distillate from estate-grown Piedmontese grapes. The colour comes from carrot and beetroot extracts, the sweetness from beet sugar, and the spirit rests for 40 days in stainless steel before bottling. It is vegan. Orange peel, orange blossom and rhubarb lead on the nose, followed by white stone fruit, marzipan and a soft bitterness.