Cocktails with Gentian liqueur
Gentian liqueur is a bitter, yellow French aperitif liqueur built on gentian root. It is less sweet than most liqueurs, so in a drink it works more as a bitter than as a sweetener.
ABV15–20%The exact strength depends on the market.
Substitutes for Gentian liqueur
Another gentian liqueur
Suze, Salers and Avèze swap for each other in the same amount. Suze's main bottle is 15% with about 137 g of sugar per liter. Salers is 16%, and Avèze, at 15–18%, is sweeter.
Luxardo Bitter Bianco
The usual pick among other bitter liqueurs, at 30% and about 250 g of sugar per liter. Start with half the measure and taste. If the drink has syrup, it will need less.
Gentian eau-de-vie / Enzian
A distillate of fermented gentian root, at least 37.5% and unsweetened. Use about half the measure, plus about a barspoon of 2:1 syrup for every 30 ml replaced.
Gentian is usually one herb among many, and most amari are sweeter. A dark amaro also takes away the drink's pale color.
