Select Aperitivo 700ml

Select Aperitivo is a red Italian bitter aperitivo first made in Venice in 1920 by the Pilla brothers and now produced by Gruppo Montenegro. It blends 30 botanicals, with juniper berries and rhubarb root in the lead, and is bottled at 17.5%.

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Select was born at the Pilla family distillery in the Castello district of Venice, and the brand describes its bittersweet profile as essential to the original Venetian spritz. The recipe leans on two key botanicals. Juniper berries bring balsamic, floral notes, and rhubarb root gives a firm, deep bitterness to balance the sweetness. The other 28 botanicals fill in citrus, spice and herbal layers. Next to Aperol it is noticeably more bitter and richer, while it sits a little lighter and rounder than Campari. That middle ground makes it a good choice if you find one too sweet and the other too sharp.

The Venetian spritz with Select is built three, two, one: 75ml Prosecco, 50ml Select and 25ml soda water over ice in a large wine glass, garnished with a big green olive rather than an orange slice. The salty olive is part of the drink, so give it a try. Select also works in place of Campari in a Negroni or Americano for a softer, more herbal result. Serve with Venetian-style cicchetti: olives, salted crisps, cured meats, crostini with salt cod, or small fried seafood. Keep the bottle in a cool, dark spot once opened and close the cap firmly. A smart pick for spritz fans who want to try the Venetian original, or anyone building an aperitivo shelf at home.