Here’s a tasty Italian aperitif that’s begging to be part of your liquor collection: Cocchi Americano! This popular substitute for Lillet Blanc is worth seeking out. Its flavor is nuanced and intriguing: honey sweet, with citrus notes and a bitter herbal finish. It pairs well with club soda for the best bubbly, hydrating drinks: and it features in a few classic cocktails, too. Here’s why to stock a bottle in your refrigerator!
What is Cocchi Americano?
Cocchi Americano is an Italian aromatized wine: a white wine infused with fruits, herbs and other botanicals. It was invented in 1891 by Giulio Cocchi in Asti, Italy. Production has continued to this day with the original recipe. Cocchi Americano is flavored with quinine, the substitute that gives tonic water its distinctive flavor. Because of this, it’s a great substitute Kina Lillet, a quinine-flavored fortified wine invented in 1887 that stars in the famous Vesper Martini and Corpse Reviver. Lillet Blanc later replaced Kina in 1986, which has a lower quinine content. Cocchi Americano is a popular modern substitute for both, though the flavor is slightly sweeter than Lillet Blanc. How does Cocchi Americano differ from a fortified wine like vermouth? They are both aromatized wine, a wine that are often fortified with another spirit and then infused with herbs, spices, fruit or other botanicals. The difference is in the flavor profile: Cocchi American is honey-sweet with citrus notes and a bitter herbal finish. Dry vermouth has a very dry flavor, with light floral notes. But you can use Cocchi in a similar way that you’d drink a dry white vermouth!
What does Cocchi Americano taste like?
Cocchi Americano has a sweet and honeyed flavor, with citrus notes and a bitter gentian finish. It’s made with Moscato wine, so it’s sweeter than a dry vermouth (or Lillet Blanc). It tastes like a semi-sweet white vermouth with bitter herbal notes on the finish. How much alcohol is in Cocchi Americano? It is 16.5% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it has a mid-range alcohol content that’s similar to wine. Are there any Cocchi Americano substitutes? Since Cocchi is known as a substitute for Lillet Blanc, you can go the other way and use Lillet Blanc as a substitute here. Keep in mind, Lillet Blanc is more crisp and dry.
Why we like it
The sweet, herbal flavor of Cocchi Americano is so refreshing and perfect for mixing into spritzes, spritzers, or a G&T. In the summer, we grab a bottle and pour it into herb-stuffed wine glasses with club soda: no need to measure! And it makes a knock-out Corpse Reviver, with stronger herbal notes than Lillet.
How much does it cost?
Compared to other liquors, Cocchi Americano is mid-priced. A 750 ml bottle costs about $20.
Popular Cocchi Americano cocktails
You can drink it on ice, but there also many great drinks to make with this aperitif! Here are a few Cocchi Americano cocktails to try:
More cocktail guides
Need more liquor guides? We’ve got them! Here’s all you need to know about home bartending: Ingredients: Gin, lemon juice, Cointreau, Cocchi Americano, absinthe Ingredients: Gin, vodka, Cocchi Americano Ingredients: Cocchi Americano, lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda Ingredients: Cocchi Americano, gin, tonic water No reviews
Aperol Guide and Campari Guide All you need to know about these Italian liqueurs. Aquavit All you need to know about this Scandinavian spirit Baileys Guide All the ins and outs of Irish Cream. Chartreuse Guide This pale green liqueur is worth adding to your collection…here’s why. Cointreau Guide, Blue Curacao Guide, or Orange Liqueur Guide Citrus liqueurs…broken down. Galliano Guide Is this bright yellow liqueur worth buying? Grenadine Guide It’s mistaken as cherry, but this bright syrup has a secret. Fernet Branca Guide Here’s why people love this Italian bitter. Kahlua Guide Learn about this popular Mexican coffee liqueur Peppermint Schnapps Try this tasty minty liqueur Pernod More about this anise-flavored liqueur
