Tempus Fugit Kina L'Aero d'Or

Tempus Fugit Spirits, the brainchild of historians Peter Schaf and John Troia, is dedicated to resurrecting and recreating rare, historically accurate spirits and liqueurs. Kina L'Aero d'Or, a nod to Louis Blériot's 1909 cross-channel flight, exemplifies this mission. It's a modern recreation of a late 19th to early 20th-century French aperitif wine style known as Kina or Quinquina. These were originally developed to make quinine more palatable for soldiers in malaria-prone regions. Produced in Switzerland at the Matter distillery, Kina L'Aero d'Or starts with a white wine base from the Cortese grape of Piedmont, Italy. This is then infused with botanicals like cinchona bark (for that characteristic quinine note), orange peel, and wormwood, resulting in a complex, bittersweet profile with quince and marmalade aromas. While Tempus Fugit is based in California, their production often involves meticulous research into historical recipes and sourcing period-appropriate ingredients.

Tempus Fugit Kina L'Aero d'Or introduces a delightful bitterness from cinchona bark, balanced by sweet quince and orange marmalade notes. This aperitif wine truly comes alive in classic cocktails like the Vesper or a Corpse Reviver #2, lending a complex, historical layer to your home bar creations.

This is a really interesting one, a proper recreation of a historic Kina. You'll get aromas of quince and bright orange marmalade right away. Then, on the palate, it's this lovely dance between a zesty, citrus-driven bitterness – think gentian and cinchona bark – and a balancing sweetness that reminds me of rich honey or candied ginger. The finish lingers with that pleasant bitterness, a touch of spice, and some dried citrus peel notes. It's definitely a standout among craft spirits and a fantastic cocktail ingredient to have in your home bar, especially if you're an Anders Erickson fan looking for those unique Bitter Bear spirits vibes.