1.5 oz. Lillet Blanc
.75 oz. St. George Bruto Americano
.5 oz. Italicus
.25 oz. gentian syrup
2 dashes orange bitters
4 drops 20% saline solution
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice and stir.
Strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Gentian syrup
3.5g dried gentian root
500mL boiling water
500g sugar
Steep the gentian root in the boiling water. After 10 minutes, strain out the root, and combine the water and sugar. Mix until all the sugar dissolves.
This drink was created to highlight St. George Spirits' red bitter: Bruto Americano. More bitter and less sweet than Campari and Aperol, it has a toned down citrus flavor and more savory herbalness. I thought to complement that aspect of it with a gentian syrup, along with Italicus and Lillet Blanc which bring floral citrus notes to the drink. In a way, this is a re-imagined negroni, halfway to being a white negroni. Perhaps an orange negroni? Whatever it is, it's somehow both light and a slow sipper, with a lingering bitterness on the palate that keeps you coming back for more.