Chinotto is a type of carbonated soft drink produced from the juice of the fruit of the myrtle-leaved orange tree. I’d first tried the version by San Pellegrino.
The beverage had a near-opaque brown-black hue and emitted a sweet, slightly spiced citrus aroma, accompanied by a moderate carbonation. When served chilled, the first sip introduced zesty citrus notes with a gentle sweetness, followed by a slightly spiced character that evoked hints of cinnamon, resembling cola in many ways. Notably different from cola, however, was its minimal acidity, and the abrupt emergence of a strong and astringent bitterness in the finish, catching us off guard with its intensity. This bittersweet experience closely resembled sipping a sweetened shot of espresso, only to have the sweetness vanish abruptly mid-sip without warning. Taking into account the notably intense bitterness, the overall bittersweet profile of the chinotto was captured effectively, resulting in a satisfying beverage. It’s worth mentioning that the robust bitter finish was somewhat smoother in the San Pellegrino version, which we happen to prefer.
This Bilseri Chinotto contained 300 mL. It was produced in Australia and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2019.