Starlino Orange Aperitivo

Appearance: Orange with a pink tint. Aroma: Orange rind, grapefruit, some faint herbal notes. Flavor and Texture: The arrival is sweet and focused on orange and grapefruit, but a bitter quality quickly emerges. It’s a combination of bitter citrus pith and an herbal bitterness (perhaps chincona, perhaps wormwood), and there is peach in the aftertaste. It has a slightly syrupy texture. This aperitivo is made by the same people who make Malfy gin, Starlino Vermouth, and Starlino Rose aperitivo. It is a combination of white wine and neutral spirit flavored with citrus and herbs, and the profile leans strongly towards orange and grapefruit. When tasted neat, the bitter quality is very obvious, but once mixed, this becomes more subtle, and citrus takes the front row. It is very similar to Aperol in aroma and flavor but just different enough to stand out as its own thing. I think it’s the grapefruit and the type of bitterness that makes the difference. I tried it in several refreshing spritzes with soda water, cava, prosecco, and champagne, but my favorite recipe is to mix it with light tonic water in a ratio of 1 part Starlino to 2 or 3 parts tonic. A wedge of citrus, some ice, and a sprig of rosemary finishes it off to perfection, and it makes an excellent change to gin and tonic on a hot afternoon. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)