Byrrh Grand Quinquina
Byrrh Grand Quinquina is a French quinquina apéritif at 18% ABV in a 750mL bottle — created in 1866 in Thuir, French Catalonia, from a port-like red wine and mistelle base with cinchona bark, coffee, bitter orange, and cocoa — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 18% vol
- Size: 750mL (a 375mL format also exists — confirm on the shelf bottle)
- Base wine: generous port-like red wine + mistelle (muscat mistelle; no added sugar)
- Botanicals: finest South American cinchona bark (quinine), coffee, bitter orange, cocoa, plus other aromatics
- History: created 1866 by the Violet brothers; trademarked 1873; exported to the US until Prohibition; reintroduced ~2012
- Producer: Byrrh (Violet Frères), Thuir, Pyrénées-Orientales, France
France's Original Quinquina, Since 1866
Two traveling merchants, the Violet brothers, created Byrrh in 1866 by blending Roussillon red wine with cinchona bark — the source of quinine — and a mistelle base. It rode France's quinquina craze to fame with celebrated poster-art campaigns and a "hygienic drink" reputation, exported to America until Prohibition shut the door, and returned to the US around 2012. Deep ruby red, it opens on dark cherry and dried plum before settling into earthy, spicy bitterness threaded with licorice and bitter chocolate. See more Byrrh, or browse the store's apéritif and bitter liqueur shelf.
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby; dark cherry and dried plum opening into earthy, spicy bitterness with licorice and bitter chocolate. A firm quinine backbone over a fruity, port-like wine base — refreshing, never heavy.
How to Enjoy
Serve chilled as an aperitif, with tonic and a twist, or alongside blue cheese as the importer suggests. It also subs beautifully for sweet vermouth in a Manhattan or Negroni.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "quinquina" mean?
A French apéritif category built on cinchona bark — the source of quinine — macerated in wine; Byrrh is one of its founding expressions.
What is the ABV?
18% ABV.
Is Byrrh sweet?
The mistelle base gives natural sweetness with no added sugar; the quinine backbone keeps it balanced and refreshing.
What is Byrrh's history?
Created 1866 by the Violet brothers in Thuir, trademarked 1873, a Belle Époque icon exported to the US until Prohibition, reintroduced around 2012.
The grandfather of quinquina: order Byrrh Grand Quinquina online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.