amer liqueur
ReferenceFrance, Alsace
Tasting Notes
Bitter orange peel, gentian, quinine, caramel. Amber-brown color. The bitter-orange note is the defining character — more orange-forward than Italian amari. Less complex than a full amaro but more focused — designed to do one thing (add bitter-orange depth to a drink) and do it well. Modern Amer Picon is less bitter than the original. Finish is medium, bitter-sweet, orange-peel dry.
Brand Guide
Classic: Amer Picon Club ($18-22, limited availability). Substitute: Bigallet China-China ($25-30). Craft: Golden Moon Amer dit Picon ($30-35, closest to original recipe). Budget: Torani Amer ($22-28). The category is defined by absence — the original Amer Picon recipe no longer exists, and every commercial amer is either the reformulated version or a substitute.