Scarlet Apertivo Bitter Liqueur
28% ABV | 700mL | 25 botanicals — Scarlet Apertivo is Japan's answer to the classic Italian red bitter: made by Iseya Distillery in Sagamihara, Kanagawa — founded 2021 by distiller Tatsuya Motonaga — from 25 estate-grown and local botanicals including wormwood, yomogi (Japanese mugwort), and blood orange peel, macerated in neutral sugarcane spirit and colored with cochineal. Styled after 1970s Italian red bitters, it's built for the Negroni. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The pour is a deep ruby red with a distinctly fresh, botanical-forward character: bright citrus peel and wild herbs on the nose, a balanced palate of bitter orange, gentian-like bitterness, and floral lift, and a clean, persistent bitter finish. Among bitter liqueurs, Scarlet drinks less syrupy than the Italian classics — a drier, more aromatic bitter that lifts a Negroni or a spritz instead of weighing it down. Distributed in New York and California.
Tasting notes
Nose: bitter orange peel, wild herbs, floral lift. Palate: bright citrus, balanced bitterness, yomogi and wormwood character. Finish: clean and persistent; cochineal-smooth bitter close. (Per distillery notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 28% ABV — 700mL
- 25 estate-grown and local botanicals (wormwood, yomogi, blood orange peel) macerated in sugarcane spirit
- Made by Iseya Distillery, Sagamihara, Japan — founded 2021 by Tatsuya Motonaga
- Styled after 1970s Italian red bitters; natural cochineal coloring
- Built for Negronis, Americanos, and spritzes
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
1:1:1 with gin and sweet vermouth for a Negroni, or with sparkling wine and soda for a spritz. Serve chilled or over ice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scarlet Apertivo Italian?
No — despite the style, it's made in Japan by Iseya Distillery in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, founded 2021 by Tatsuya Motonaga.
What botanicals are in it?
25 estate-grown and local botanicals including wormwood, yomogi (Japanese mugwort), and blood orange peel.
What cocktails is it for?
It's built for bitter-liqueur classics: Negroni, Americano, Boulevardier, and the spritz.
What gives it the red color?
Cochineal, a natural coloring, in the style of classic Italian red bitters.