Suze Gentian Liqueur

Appearance (neat): Bright yellow. Appearance (diluted): Light canary yellow. Aroma (neat): Sharp, distinct, clean gentian extract. Some earthy herbal and root extract notes. Taste (neat): Initial sugary, honeyed sweetness, followed by a developing bitterness. At first, the bitterness is one-dimensional, but with time, complexity emerges, with turmeric, saffron, and juniper all clearly discernible. The texture is full and coats the mouth, but not syrupy. Suze is one of the more challenging bitter liqueurs to understand and use effectively. It's not an aperitivo like Aperol, nor is it an amaro that can stand alone as an aperitif or digestif. It occupies a space in between and can be enjoyed either neat over ice or as a cocktail component. It defies convention and doesn't pair particularly well with prosecco, but it can be balanced with a sweet asti sparkling wine for a very pleasing and refreshing long drink. It also resists tonic but works very well with lemonade. Surprisingly, it complements rouge vermouth. Unlike many amari and aperitifs that use gentian, either alone or with wormwood, to impart bitterness, Suze fully embraces that herbal extract as its base, with numerous other subtle aromatics supporting it. Its apparent initial simplicity hides the drink's complexity and demonstrates that gentian, much like juniper, is a subtle and multifaceted aromatic. A captivating and initially unusual aperitif that grows on you as you develop a taste for it. “Very Good”: 86/100 (4 stars)

Clear yellow appearance. The aroma is quite distinct. I'm unfamiliar with the scent of gentian or its other components, but it's intriguing: citrus, apple, earth, stone fruit, vanilla, and herbal notes. There's an expected bitterness, but its intensity is hard to gauge. Surprisingly, the finish has only mild bitterness; overall, it's sweet but not excessively so. The flavor is difficult to pinpoint but includes elements like lemon, pear, sugar, a hint of bitterness, and vanilla.

This is a traditional French aperitif derived from Gentian. Fragrant lemon blossom and earthy root notes characterize this delicately sweet, intensely bitter liqueur. The autrefois version is the more classic formulation, possessing a higher alcohol content and more potent flavor. (A star was deducted due to the inclusion of yellow #5 coloring). Follow Saler’s example and keep it pure!

This is a bitter aperitif from France made with gentian. It has a rich, warm yellow hue, a flavor that is both sweet and bitter with herbal notes, and a dry, bitter finish. It's similar to the French aperitif Salers, but it's better enjoyed on its own because it's more balanced and sophisticated, not as harsh. It also makes a great cocktail, like a simple Suze and Tonic, or a G&T with Suze. It's my top choice among white amari or gentian liqueurs.

A pleasant bitter herbal liqueur. I ordered it online as it wasn't available locally. I'm not a big fan of drinking it straight over ice, but it creates an excellent white negroni. The classic negroni is among my all-time favorite cocktails, and the white negroni is a close second. I'm looking forward to using it more in mixed drinks.

A wonderfully balanced liqueur that is sweet, earthy, and bitter. It was a favorite of Pablo Picasso. It's used to create a White Negroni.