The Original

Italy has been drinking this since 1965 and the recipe has not changed since. Fifteen ingredients go into it, a mix of herbs, spices and roots that includes cardamom, cloves, coriander and nutmeg, and the extract is left to stand for up to six months before the drink is finished. That long infusion is where the complexity comes from. In the glass it is blond and deeply yellow with glints of orange, sparkling, opening on citrus and distinctive orange before an intriguing bittersweetness layered with spice takes over. The finish leans herbal and woody. Campari Group bought the brand in 1995 and left the formula alone. Serve it the Italian way in a wine goblet packed with ice and a slice of fresh orange, with a splash of soda for extra bubbles. It suits cheese, cold cuts and tapas, or just the hour when afternoon turns into evening. Sold in 17.5cl bottles.