Bisleri Ferro-China

Appearance: Deep brown, nearly black, and opaque even under strong light. Aroma: Notes of menthol, mint, and various woody herbal and root extracts, reminiscent of herbal cough syrup. Flavor and Texture: The initial taste on the front of the tongue is mildly minty and herbal with a subtle sweetness, no added sugar apparent. Moving it around the mouth reveals earthy and woody flavors. The finish introduces a sudden metallic note, like tasting rust or blood. The texture is full but not heavy. The nose is somewhat like a milder Fernet Branca, with less intense menthol and more earthy scents. No citrus or soft herbal notes are detected. A "china" is a type of amaro characterized by a significant amount of Cinchona calisaya bark extract, containing bitter quinine and other alkaloids. Chinas are related to quinquina beverages like Dubonnet and Cocchi Americano. Ferro-chinas are a further subset that also include ammonium iron citrate, originally formulated as blood tonics. While it sounds like a quack remedy today, there's some basis to it. Anemia was common in the 19th century, and tonics like Bisleri were sold as over-the-counter remedies, similar to modern iron supplements. This is a challenging drink to evaluate, being very much an acquired taste, though not unpleasant. Sipping it neat requires a couple of glasses to get accustomed to the palate. It can also be enjoyed as a long drink with soda and citrus, which makes it more approachable, but it still evokes the taste of water from an old, rusty tap – similar to the experience of "taking the waters" in Bath, England. Neat, it has a slightly drying, astringent quality, which is greatly reduced when diluted. It's less refreshing than an aperitif but commendably low in sugar. Many amari are marketed as digestifs but can feel heavy or cause indigestion; this one genuinely acts as a soothing after-dinner drink. I'm also unsure about its current availability. While Difford's indicates production ceased in 2015, I've seen it listed on several online sites. I located a bottle at a suburban Italian liquor store today, though it might be old stock. "Above Average (but unusual and not for all tastes)": 82/100 (3.25 stars)