Tempus Fugit Gran Classico Bitter Liqueur

Gran Classico Bitter is a fascinating revival of a classic "Italian Bitter of Turin" recipe from the 1860s. Originally produced in Turin, Italy, the recipe was acquired by a small Swiss distillery in 1925 and was almost lost to time, enjoyed mainly by a local audience. Tempus Fugit Spirits, known for meticulously recreating rare, historic spirits for the modern cocktail scene, brought the original formula back to life. It’s made from a maceration of 25 herbs and roots, including gentian, rhubarb, and bitter orange peel, which gives it a complex, bittersweet profile and a natural golden-amber color without any artificial additives.

Gran Classico brings a complex, gentian-driven bitterness with notes of rhubarb, orange peel, and vanilla. It’s less sweet and more herbal than Campari, making it a fantastic substitute in a Negroni or a Spritz for a drier, more layered profile. This is your bottle for adding nuance.

Aromas of orange peel, rhubarb, and gentian root lead to a bittersweet palate where sweet rhubarb and vanilla notes are balanced by bitter wormwood and orange. The finish is layered and long, with a pleasing back-and-forth between the sweet and bitter elements, leaving a resinous, spicy character.