Review: Marie Brizard Aperitivo

Marie Brizard recently launched its response to Aperol, a bright orange liqueur (naturally flavored, artificially colored) designed specifically for spritzing. The product is crafted in Bordeaux, France and is infused with over 30 botanicals, “including wormwood, bay, basil, thyme, and citrus, and complemented by cherry and apple distillates.” Interestingly, it is specifically designed to be less bitter than its counterparts on the market.

Marie Brizard Aperitivo Review

The color in the photo is misleading. This product is vibrantly orange, almost neon-like in tone. On the nose, there’s a considerable candylike quality, very sweet and almost monotone in its presentation. If there are 30 botanicals here, you won’t easily smell many of them, though some notes of applesauce and banana give the spirit an even stronger punch of fruit.

The palate starts off just as sweet as you’re expecting, and the flavor of well-sugared orange jellies is immediate. Bitterness eventually shows its face, and it’s more than welcome, with a gentian-driven character that mercifully tempers what would otherwise be a cloyingly sweet experience. Gently herbal but otherwise straightforward, the earthy bittering agents offer a light hint of rosemary and bay leaf, but on the whole it serves as a counterpoint to what’s come before — and a necessary ingredient in a classic spritz. All told it’s a credible alternative to Aperol — and a solid investment if you really can’t stand a lot of bittering agents.

If you want to move beyond the classic 3-2-1 Spritz recipe, you’ll find Brizard’s version below.

30 proof.

A- / $22

Apple Cider Spritz
2 oz. Marie Brizard Aperitivo
2 oz. Fresh apple cider
1 oz. Prosecco
1 oz. Club soda
2 dashes Angostura bitters (optional, for depth)
Apple slice and cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Combine Aperitivo, apple cider, prosecco, and club soda in an ice-filled glass. Add bitters if desired, and garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick for a festive fall touch.

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