Pampelle Ruby l'Apero

Appearance: Vivid amber with reddish tones. Nose: Sharp, sweet citrus with a hint of bitterness. It unmistakably smells like grapefruit. Taste and Mouthfeel (straight): Sweet, with subtle citrus notes. It's quite smooth, carrying hints of tangello or orange. As it lingers and especially when swallowed, grapefruit becomes the primary taste. It possesses a mild bitterness and a neutral texture. This appears to be a relatively new aperitif, centered around ruby grapefruit, which strongly influences its aroma and flavor. It's highly drinkable, possessing a gentle and pleasant profile. The bitterness is light, comparable to that of a sweet grapefruit. There might be some herbal bitterness too, but it's likely not intense enough to be wormwood; perhaps gentian. It can be served slightly chilled, over ice, or mixed. However, it would likely be overpowered in cocktails with robust flavors. I enjoyed my sample neat so much I finished it before trying mixers, necessitating a fresh pour. It's quite revitalizing with soda and a citrus slice, and also pairs well with sparkling lemonade. I imagine it would be fantastic with brut or a delicate Provençal rosé. Intriguing thought: it complements gin. A quick test confirms: Ice, one measure of gin, two measures of Pampelle, topped with tonic, and garnished with lime. Superb! It's comparable to Aperol but more subdued and reserved. Reasonably priced, it's definitely worth sampling if you like Aperol and want a change – you'll be pleased. "Excellent": 83/100 (3.5 stars)

I'm a particular fan of anything that offers grapefruit bitterness without excessive sweetness, and this delivers precisely that. It functions well as an icy aperitif (try shaking vigorously with a bit of lemon over crushed ice and serving in a martini glass), in a negroni variation, or with soda.