What is Cocchi Americano?
A Quick Overview Of Cocchi Americano
Cocchi Americano is an Italian apéritif made with fortifed Moscato d'Asti wine. (Fortified means that spirits such as brandy are added to wine). Cocchi Americano is flavored with citrus peels, various botanicals and cinchona bar, which adds quinine and a resultant bitter note to the drink. Cocchi Americano is considered to be very close in flavor to the original Kina Lillet before it (Lillet) was reformulated in 1986, and some use it as a substitute for Lillet in cocktails.
Both Lillet and Cocchi Americano are 'chinati' (in Italian), and 'quinquinas' (French). These words are used to define categories of drinks which contain quinine, and they were originally created to ward off malaria, as well as for their tonic effects. Nowadays we drink them primarily as apéritifs before meals, and as mixers in cocktails.
Cocchi Americano has a citrusy, herby, slightly bitter taste, and can be served over ice, with a splash of club soda, and a slice of orange to garnish. For some great cocktails made with this drink, check out this page.