If you’ve ventured into the cocktail world, odds are you’re familiar with the bitter Italian liqueurs called amari. But less familiar still, even to well-versed mixologists, are the French versions known as amer. They’re worth seeking out, especially as one of our very favorites—Bigallet China-China Amer—is ideal for complex, satisfying winter cocktails. (No need for the whole mouthful of names; China-China will do for our purposes.)
Like other liqueurs of its ilk, China-China has bitter and sweet elements, but it’s on the more accessible end of the spectrum. Orange takes front and center, as the liqueur is made with both sweet and bitter oranges. It’s strong on the caramel, rich and substantial, with other spices and aromatics—cinchona bark, clove, gentian—bringing in earthy undertones and real complexity. And, up at 40% ABV, it packs a punch, enough to act as a starring ingredient in cocktails in its own right....
By Carey Jones and John D. McCarthy, Updated January 11, 2019
https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails-spirits/china-china-amer-cocktails-recipes
This traditional orange-based French bitter is a deep, complex equivalent to the fabled Amer Picon. Flavors include sweet caramel and classic bitter agents including cinchona and gentian. Bigallet uses both sweet oranges from Valencia and bitter oranges from the former Dutch island colony of Curaçao. Other aromatic ingredients in the China-China include anise, cinchona, gentian, clove, and other spices.
The flavors of the bitter oranges and botanicals give way to a bitter and spicy-sweet finish.
Silver Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2014
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