Peychaud's Aperitivo Liqueur

Peychaud's Aperitivo Liqueur takes one of cocktail history's great names out of the dasher bottle and into the glass — 11% ABV (22 proof), 750mL, a light, Italian-style bitter aperitivo produced in Italy by Sazerac, led by bitter orange and grapefruit over rooty herbs. It borrows its name and its rusty-red hue from Antoine Peychaud's famous New Orleans bitters, but this is a drink in its own right, made for spritzes and long serves. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• ABV: 11% (22 proof)
• Size: 750mL
• Style: Italian-style bitter aperitivo — light-bodied, citrus-led
• Character: Bitter orange, grapefruit, herbal complexity, faint clove-like spice
• Origin: Produced in Italy; a Sazerac product with New Orleans heritage (launched February 2016)

From the Dasher Bottle to the Spritz Glass

Antoine Amedee Peychaud was a nineteenth-century New Orleans apothecary whose aromatic bitters became a cornerstone of the Sazerac cocktail. In 2016 the Sazerac Company gave his name a second act: an aperitivo in the Italian tradition — clear, light rusty-red, bittersweet with orange and grapefruit — released first in New Orleans and built for the spritz era. It sits lighter and less bitter than Campari, in the easy-drinking class aperitivo drinkers reach for first. Find it among our liqueurs, browse the spirits range, or visit the Peychaud's vendor page.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Bitter orange and grapefruit with herbal undertones. Palate: Light and bittersweet — bitter orange, a grapefruit-sherbet brightness, rooty herbal depth and a faint clove-like spice. Finish: Citrus zest and gentle bitterness, lingering cleanly.

How to Enjoy

Build a spritz with Prosecco and soda over ice with an orange twist, pour it long over ice on its own, or use it by the ounce as a low-ABV bitter modifier in cocktails that want Peychaud's colour without Campari's weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Peychaud's Aperitivo the same as Peychaud's Bitters? No. The Bitters is a concentrated aromatic bitters sold in small dasher bottles and used by the dash. The Aperitivo is a separate 750mL liqueur at 11% ABV, made to be poured by the ounce and drunk.

Where is Peychaud's Aperitivo made? It is produced in Italy in the Italian aperitivo style. The Peychaud's name and heritage are New Orleans — Antoine Peychaud's bitters date to the 1800s French Quarter — but the liquid in this bottle is Italian-made.

How does it compare with Campari or Aperol? It is lighter and less bitter than Campari, in a similar low-alcohol aperitivo class — citrus-led, herbal and easy in a spritz.

A New Orleans name in an Italian aperitivo glass — buy Peychaud's Aperitivo Liqueur online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.