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Orange Bitter Aperitivo

Amer Picon

The bitter orange aperitif born in colonial Algeria and beloved of vintage cocktails.

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Bottle of Amer Picon French bitter orange aperitif with a red capsule and gold-framed black label
Amer Picon, the French bitter orange aperitif created in 1837, now bottled at 18% ABV.
Producer
Campari Group
Where it's made
France (originally Philippeville, Algeria) · Sold as Picon Bière and Picon Club in France
Founded
1837
Strength
18% ABV (originally 39%)
Aging
Orange peels macerated and distilled, then blended with gentian and cinchona
Typical price
€12–€20 / 1L in Europe
Style
Orange Bitter Aperitivo
Flavor profile
Candied orange with a quinine spine

Ingredients

Fresh and dried bitter orange peel, distilled and macerated, married with gentian root, cinchona bark, caramel and sugar syrup.

History of the Brand

Gaétan Picon, a French soldier stationed in Algeria, blended the first batches in 1837 to make quinine palatable against fever.

Production moved to Marseille and then Paris; by the belle époque Picon was a fixture of French café life.

The strength was cut from 39% to 21% and finally 18%, and the modern French bottlings — Picon Bière and Picon Club — are sweeter than the nineteenth-century original.

Because it is not officially imported to the US, generations of American bartenders have chased substitutes for the Brooklyn and the Picon Punch of Basque Nevada.

Tasting Characteristics

Nose

Orange marmalade, caramel, faint medicinal root.

Palate

Sweet orange up front, then gentian and quinine bitterness and burnt-sugar depth.

Finish

Medium, sticky-sweet then dry.

Flavor meter

Bitter
6/10
Sweet
7/10
Herbal
4/10
Citrus
9/10
Spice
3/10
Body
6/10

How to serve it

  • 01Picon Bière: a splash in a glass of lager, the classic French bar order.
  • 02In a Brooklyn cocktail with rye, dry vermouth and maraschino.
  • 03Picon Punch with brandy, grenadine and soda.
  • 04Long with soda and lemon over ice.

Where to Get It

Not officially imported to the US; easy to buy across France and neighbouring countries.

European supermarkets

Picon Bière and Picon Club sit on ordinary aperitif shelves.

Travel retail

The usual way Americans get a bottle home.

Substitutes

Amaro CioCiaro, Bigallet China-China or Golden Amer stand in behind US bars.

Where to buy Amer Picon

Total WineIn-store pickup in 27 statesReserveBarShips nationwide, gift packagingWine.comSpirits shipping to most states

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Amer Picon FAQ

Can you buy Amer Picon in the US?

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Not officially — it is not imported, so bartenders use Amaro CioCiaro or Bigallet China-China instead.

What does Amer Picon taste like?

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Candied bitter orange with caramel and a gentian-quinine bitterness underneath.

What is Picon Bière?

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The French habit of pouring a measure of Picon into a glass of lager — the country's most common way to drink it.