Cocchi Americano Bianco
An Italian aromatized wine flavored with quinine and citrus peel, a classic stand-in for the discontinued original Kina Lillet in a Vesper.
Origin
Asti, Italy, developed by Giulio Cocchi, a pastry chef turned winemaker who established his business there in 1891.
History
Giulio Cocchi, originally a pastry chef from Florence, relocated to Asti in Italy's Piedmont region and founded his winemaking business in 1891, developing what's now called Cocchi Americano Bianco: a Moscato-based aromatized wine infused with gentian, quinine-rich cinchona bark, and citrus. It's become the modern bartender's go-to substitute for Kina Lillet, a similarly quinine-forward aperitif wine discontinued decades ago, making Cocchi Americano the closest available match for classics like the Vesper Martini (from Ian Fleming's Casino Royale) and the Corpse Reviver #2.
Flavor profile
Bittersweet and quinine-forward, with bright citrus and floral wine character underneath.
Tasting notes
A gentle bitterness from cinchona bark (the source of quinine) runs through bright citrus and honeyed wine notes, lighter and more floral than a fortified vermouth, which is exactly why it works so well in place of the long-discontinued Kina Lillet.
Substitutes
- Lillet Blanc, for a different but related aromatized wine, understanding it's less bitter and quinine-forward than true Cocchi Americano.
- Dry vermouth with a dash of orange bitters, as a rough approximation in a genuine pinch.
- A different quinine-based aperitif wine, if one is available, for the closest match to the original character.
Common cocktails