Another gem from one of our favorite Piemontese producers, Bordiga has been crafting vermouths, amari, and botanical spirits in Cuneo since 1888. Founded by Torino bartender and herbalist Pietro Bordiga, the distillery moved to the foothills of the Alps so he could work closer to the wild herbs that define the region’s drinking culture. Many of those botanicals are still foraged in the Occitan Alps and distilled in the distillery’s historic copper still—a tradition that gives Bordiga’s lineup its unmistakable alpine character. Needless to say, as longtime Piemonte-heads, we at PRIMA have always had a soft spot for the house.

Chiot Montamaro sits somewhere between a classic Italian amaro and an aperitivo bitter. Compared with darker, heavier amari like Amaro Montenegro or Fernet-Branca, it’s brighter and more lifted, with gentian, citrus peel, alpine herbs, and a gently earthy bitterness. At the same time, it has more depth and herbal complexity than a straight cocktail bitter like Campari.

The result is beautifully versatile. Try it lengthened with soda and a twist for a refreshing alpine aperitivo, or use it anywhere you’d reach for a bittersweet amaro in cocktails. And if you really want the Piemonte experience, pair it with Bordiga’s vermouth and/or gin—few producers capture the flavors of the Alps quite like they do.