Meletti 1870 Bitter Aperitivo (75cl)

Meletti 1870 Bitter Aperitivo is a bright red Italian bitter made by the Silvio Meletti distillery of Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche. It takes the year of the distillery's founding as its name. Three separate distillates go into it: sweet orange, bitter orange and an infusion of spices and herbs, blended with pure spirit. The botanicals come from Le Marche growers, and the distillates are made in bain-marie stills, which use gentle indirect heat. It opens with sweet citrus, moves through a bitter middle and finishes on gentian, coriander, cinnamon and clove. The bitterness is mild and the character fruity and spiced, which suits it to the hour before dinner.