Amer Picon

Trade name; pungent bitters invented in 1830 by Gaston Picon; contains quinine, gentian, and orange.

[ah-MEHR pee-KAWN] An extremely bitter (amer is French for bitter) French vermouth-style apéritif. It has a dark reddish-brown color and is flavored with gentian, orange, and cinchona bark, which yields quinine-hence, the bitterness. Amer Picon is typically taken with soda water, but is also used in various cocktails. Also known simply as Picon.