{"product_id":"contratto-bitter-100cl","title":"Contratto Bitter - 100CL","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhere the Belbo river winds its way through the Piedmont region of northern Italy, halfway between Turin and Genoa is the beautiful old town of Canelli. It’s serious wine country here and Canelli is at the beating heart of it. But it’s what lies underneath the town streets that concerns us.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1867 Giuseppe Contratto founded his business and began construction of a wine cathedral 38 metres down. Expanded many times and finished in the early 20th century, the cathedral is an atmospheric, subterranean labyrinth holding 1.5 million bottles of wine at a naturally cool temperature of 12-13 degrees, the perfect conditions. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe cathedral became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2014 and it’s from here that Contratto’s fantastic drinks begin their journey to you. Visitors are welcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContratto Bitter is a sophisticated, all-natural red aperitif presented in a 100 cl bottle with an ABV of 22%. Rooted in a classic 1933 recipe, this complex liqueur delivers rich red fruit aromas, high gentian root notes, dried flowers, hibiscus, sage, and a pronounced, elegant bitter finish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e•    Nose: Rich red fruit and pronounced gentian root aromas, accented by dried flowers, hibiscus, sage, and subtle hints of cardamom.\u003cbr\u003e•    Palate: Lively and austere yet balanced, featuring vibrant layers of bitter-sweet citrus, earthy rhubarb, warm cloves, and a lingering herbal complexity.\u003cbr\u003e•    Finish: Long, clean, and satisfyingly bitter with persistent aromatic depth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEstate History and Distilling Methods\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e•    History: Founded in 1867 by Giuseppe Contratto in Canelli, Piedmont, the historic winery is celebrated as Italy's oldest producer of vintage sparkling wine and its traditional liqueur and vermouth recipes go back to the 1920s and 1930s.\u003cbr\u003e•    Botanicals: A blend of 24 natural herbs, spices, roots, and seeds—including aloe, wormwood, juniper, mint, and sweet and bitter orange peel—provides the aromatic profile.\u003cbr\u003e•    Processing: Botanicals are crushed using a hammer mill and undergo a cold extraction via a hydro-alcoholic infusion for 35 days.\u003cbr\u003e•    Finishing: The resulting extract blends with Italian brandy, beet sugar, and natural carrot and beetroot extracts for colour, followed by a 40-day resting period in stainless steel tanks before filtration.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing and Cocktail Suggestions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e•    Contratto and Soda: Pour over plenty of ice in a rocks glass, top with premium soda water, and garnish with an orange slice.\u003cbr\u003e•    Americano: Stir equal parts Contratto Bitter and sweet vermouth with ice, top with a splash of soda, and garnish with a twist of citrus peel.\u003cbr\u003e•    Negroni: Combine equal parts Contratto Bitter, gin, and red vermouth, stir well with ice, and garnish with an orange peel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing Matches\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e•    Aperitivo Bites: Pair with salted green olives, toasted almonds, and artisanal potato crisps.\u003cbr\u003e•    Cheese: Serve alongside creamy, young goat's cheese or mild provolone.\u003cbr\u003e•    Charcuterie: Complement with thin slices of sweet Italian prosciutto or savoury salami to balance the herbal bitterness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Amathus","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55067645739351,"sku":null,"price":41.65,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1010\/5529\/9927\/files\/Bitter_0b7ee565-d934-4fcc-b2d7-5cbc620bf208.jpg?v=1789743710","url":"https:\/\/artifexdrinks.com\/products\/contratto-bitter-100cl","provider":"Artifex Drinks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}