Amer Picon is made with fresh and dried orange peel macerated in neutral alcohol and then distilled. Dried gentian roots and quinquina are macerated separately...
REMINDER: It's Belgian by origin. But, to say it's French is the same the ongoing debates of Vodka, and Whisky. Like those never-ending debates of their origins, or whoever came up with those products first is mind boggling. Regardless, the same applies to this Belgian product by origin. It is very old, being around since the early 19th Century. With that said, we must remember that although Belgians do speak French, but to say they are French is blasphemous. Don't tell this to any Belgian. ?
No clear why it says it is a product of Belgium. It's 100% French. Although exactly where it is made remains unclear. Some report Marseille, others Bordeaux, Levallois and/or Lyon. But it's in France.
It was originally made in France but the label of the bottles we have say they were made by Diageo Belgium. Diageo recently sold Picon to Pernod Ricard who I'm sure will return production to France. However, Diageo may well have sold the brand with a supply contract lasting perhaps two years to allow the seller time to cease production and the buyer time to prepare to take over production.
I would suggest Amaro CioCiaro as an excellent alternative…
Anonymous
27th November 2021 at 18:28
Thanks Simon. Sorry, being a bit stupid but do you mean that the original Amer Picon is still available from Belgium, as well as the Bière and Club versions? I've seen contradictory info around e.g. some people saying that the Bière version is the same as the Picon Amer but others disagreeing.
I've not tried each of the various different Amer Picons against each other but their alc./vol.s helps confirm my suspicion that they all vary slightly. Amer Picon is made by/for Diageo Belgium and is still available via online shops based in Belgium.
Anonymous
27th November 2021 at 11:11
Is the original Amer Picon no longer produced, and replaced by the Biere and Club versions? If so, which is the better one to get for cocktails such as the Brooklyn?
Biere and Club versions are slightly different animals. If you can't obtain Amer Picon (best sourced from Belgium online shops) then I suggest you use a 50:50 blend of Bigallet China-China and French-made Dubonnet Red (I've not tried with the USA version of Dubonnet).
Been years since I've seen a bottle of China Martini but as I remember it's quite a different product. However, if you can't obtain Picon Amer, I'd give it a try.