Name: Bitter Giuseppe
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 swath Lemon peel; 60 ml Cynar/carciofo amaro; 30 ml Vermouth alla vaniglia; 7.5 ml Lemon juice; 3 dash Orange bitters

Ingredients

1 swath

Lemon peel

2 fl oz

Cynar or other carciofo amaro

1 fl oz

Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth

¹⁄₄ fl oz

Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

3 dash

Orange Bitters by Angostura

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.

Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist (in addition to twist used in the recipe).

Method

SQUEEZE the oils from a lemon zest into stirring glass and drop zest in.

Add other ingredients and REGAL STIR with ice.

STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish

EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Alcohol content:

We don't have enough information to calculate the alc./vol., but based on known ingredients, this recipe contains at least:

11.9 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Vermouth rosso alla vaniglia (e.g. Antica Formula) — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Comments & Discussion

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Robert Spain 49w

Wonderful aperitif. I love Cynar, and sweet vermouth combinations, and this one is really amazing. It's low abv, and lemon really shines here.

Travis Dotson Premium Member 1y

I am a big fan of cynar, so I was excited to come across the Bitter Giuseppe. I think the version with 1/4 oz Lemon juice and 6 dashes of orange bitters (I use Luxardo) is perfect.

I have also created a Smoky Giuseppe which I think is even better. I think Cynar 70 and mezcal work well together.

Smoky Giuseppe

2oz Cynar 70
1oz Dolin Vermouth Rouge
1/4oz Mezcal
1/2oz Apricot Brandy
1/4oz Cherry Heering
1/4oz lemon juice
6 dashes Orange bitters

Alex J 45w

I didn't have Cynar 70 but this is still delicious with the regular ABV one. Chapeu! You should upload this as a recipe here so I can favourite it.

Travis Dotson Premium Member 45w

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

I have uploaded it as a recipe.

Simon Sedgley Premium Member 34w

We think that you've turned the bold, austere and characterful original into a non-descript and tooty fruity...well, something. But 10 out of 10 points for the courage to go where angels fear to tread.

Justine Fehley Premium Member 1y

I made this with Cynar 70. Surprisingly sweet with a long bitter finish. Four stars.

Mark 1y

An oddity of a stirred drink yet quite pleasant, tartness does tone down the vermouth and lets cynar take the main stage.

Luca Viviani Premium Member 1y

I had high hopes for this cocktail, which I made with Cynar 70 proof. However, I found it too tart and citrusy. Will try tuning down bitters next time. I only have Angostura Orange Bitters, that I am not too fond of. I wonder if more premium bitters would have made a better cocktail.

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 1y

Agreed. Looking below, in a previous comment, I said 6 dashes of bitters were too much so I have reverted to 3 dashes.

H Grave 2y

Could you sub Antica for say Dolin Rouge or another Rosso style Vermouth? Anitica contains gelatine (V). Love Cynar.

Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member 2y

You most certainly can, but Dolin Rouge is much lighter-bodied so will produce a different cocktail.

John CARR Premium Member 2y

Anything to add a bit more body,eg vermouth di Torino, or even 50:50 Dolin and punt e mes.

Travis Dotson Premium Member 1y

I make this with Dolin Rouge and 6 dashes of luxardo orange bitters

John CARR Premium Member 2y

As a variation, and being in the mood for gin, I bumped everything back by a third and added 40ml of gin, making a …cin-cyn Giuseppe?

Avery Garnett 2y

for unrelated reasons I had a hankering for cynar and stumbled across your comment - a very tasty variant, though I think I prefer the cleanliness of the original :D

John CARR Premium Member 2y

Agreed. The original is really brilliant.
Yes, I’ve been working through the Cynar recipes recently too. Love it! Have you tried the jeez Louise?

John CARR Premium Member 2y

I’m a fan of Cynar, even more so after trying this! I made it as a half as wasn’t sure - but quickly wished more! Agreed re the underlying sweetness. And the orange bitters and carpano go beautifully. Will definitely be making again.

John CARR Premium Member 2y

And, yes, reminiscent of a Negroni but more approachable, as Erik says.

Briana Warsing 3y

omg this is delicious. it's tart for sure, but there is an underlying sweetness and something about it is light and refreshing, despite its color

Erik Lindgren 3y

I was really surprised by the taste of this cocktail even though I had tried cynar before. The lemon juice and the antica formula transforms to a bitter style cola cocktail, which was not expected. Very approachable, much more so than the negroni!