Select Aperitivo Liqueur

Appearance (neat): Ruby red. Appearance (diluted): Bright red Aroma (neat): Thyme, sage, red grapes, potpourri, citrus peel, lavender, and violet. An earthy root extract and seed spice note. Flavor (neat): Sweet citrus and herbal notes with a full spicy quality. A rich taste of citrus peel, but it's sweet citrus, not bitter, supported by excellent sweet berry notes. There's a definite bitter quality, likely from gentian. Very pleasant neat or on the rocks, with a more distinct dry bitterness in the aftertaste compared to other aperitivos. Flavor (with prosecco): Very well balanced between bitter, sour, and sweet with some fine warm herbal tones. Overall, compared to its closest competitor, Select has a more elegant, reserved, and bitter profile. It lacks the immediate, captivating citrus fruit-bowl character of Aperol, instead offering a more "grapey" quality and a richer herbal bitterness. However, it's nowhere near as overtly bitter as Campari. Absolutely delightful, and in my opinion, one of the finest aperitivos. While an Aperol spritz is perfect for relaxing in a beach chair by the sea, a Select spritz is best enjoyed at a café in the magnificent Piazza San Marco, the "drawing room of Europe" (a phrase Napoleon probably didn't coin, but should have). Why is my review the first one here, and why is there no official review? Please pay attention, staff. "Very Good": 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Fragrant orange peel and sharp herbs on the nose. A semi-sweet start on the palate that quickly develops into a mouthwatering bitterness. The body is somewhat viscous, and the finish lasts for almost five minutes. A very well-executed aperitivo, perfect for a spritz, with or without an olive. Cheers!

If Aperol is too sweet and Campari is too bitter, this is the ideal middle ground!

A pleasing aperitif that achieves a balance of sweetness and bitterness, ideal for an Italian Spritz.

I LIKE IT MORE THAN CAMPARI.