Bitter Fusetti is a modern Italian red bitter and aperitif from Dripstillery in Lombardy, just outside Milan. Launched in 2020, it has quickly established itself as a distinctive alternative to more established classic bitter styles. It is bottled at 25% ABV, is Made in Italy, and is crafted artisanally using infusions that rest for at least 30 days, giving it both depth and precision in its aromatic profile.
Its style is built around a core of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, while its signature bitterness is reinforced by quassia. To bring freshness, lift, and a clear citrus edge, the recipe also includes bitter orange and chinotto. After infusion, the liquid is filtered and assembled with water and a small amount of sugar to soften the bitterness without making the overall style heavy or sweet. The result is a bitter with clear botanical definition, but with more energy and brightness than many traditional alternatives.
On the palate, Bitter Fusetti is lively, citrus-led, and herbal, with notes of red fruit, orange peel, rhubarb, and a dry, elegant bitterness. Falstaff’s tasting notes highlight bitter orange peel, red fruit, herbs, and soft spices such as cinnamon, while other descriptions point to a balanced combination of citrus, spice, and a rounded yet clearly bitter backbone. The overall impression is modern, clean, and highly cocktail-friendly, while still nuanced enough to work beautifully on its own over ice.
Bitter Fusetti is especially well suited to Negroni, Americano, and Milano-Torino, but it also works very well served with grapefruit soda or simply over ice. As an aperitif, it is best enjoyed before dinner, ideally with salty snacks such as olives, almonds, charcuterie, or aged cheese — a natural pairing based on its dry, bittersweet, citrus-driven profile.
Internationally, Bitter Fusetti has received 92 points from Falstaff in an earlier tasting and 91 points in Falstaff’s 2023 tasting
