Suze - Gentian Aperitif | French Bitter

Suze is a classic French gentian aperitif with deep roots in 19th-century aperitif culture. The brand was first introduced in 1889 at the Paris World’s Fair and has since maintained its distinctive identity.

Unlike most bitters or amari that rely on wine or heavy botanical infusions, Suze hinges on the bitterness and character of gentian root, macerated in neutral alcohol, distilled, then blended with a secret mix of other botanicals to give complexity, sweetness, and balance.

Visually, the aperitif is known for its clear, luminous saffron-y yellow color — sometimes described as “canary yellow with golden tinges.”

It is bottled at about 15% ABV in Europe (though there is a 20 % version for some markets) and is intended to be versatile: sipped neat or over ice as an apéritif, or used in cocktails to lend a bitter, herbaceous backbone without overwhelming strength.