French Bitter Apéritifs
PRODUCT OF FRANCE
A living legacy
Since 1850, the Merlet family has crafted spirits in the Charentes region with passion and precision. From fruit selection to the art of blending, every step of the family’s savoir-faire is dedicated to revealing the purest expression of each ingredient.
The renaissance of the French apéritif
In the late 19th century, as apéritif culture flourished across France, liqueurs held a central place in French drinking traditions. People enjoyed simple yet elegant serves, where fruit liqueurs, apéritif wines and bitter botanicals came together.
Among them, crème de cassis reigned supreme, paired with countless spirits and aperitifs: cassis vermouth, cassis gentian, cognac cassis, calvados cassis, marc cassis, or blanc cassis — often lengthened with sparkling water.
With Amérisse, the Merlet Distillery reinterprets this heritage by recreating the historic balance between fruit, bitterness, and freshness through a collection of contemporary artisanal aperitifs.
The Collection
Amérisse Cassis
The intensity of blackcurrant
Amérisse Orange Amère
The French spritz
Blackcurrant Bitter Apéritif
The union of the Merlet family’s iconic blackcurrant and the refined bitterness of botanicals.
Amérisse Cassis brings together the Merlet family’s historic fruit expertise and the world of bitter botanicals.
A vibrant, complex bitter designed to elevate classic cocktails and reinvent the apéritif.
A living legacy
Since 1850, the Merlet family has crafted spirits in Saintonge with passion and precision. Every stage of production is dedicated to revealing the purest expression of fruit, from harvest to bottle.
In the 1980s, Gilles Merlet marked a turning point by pioneering blackcurrant cultivation in the Charentes region. This dedication to both land and fruit led to the creation of the Merlet Crème de Cassis in 1983, now internationally recognized and protected under the “Cassis de Saintonge” Geographical Indication.
Amérisse Cassis naturally extends this longstanding expertise in fruit liqueurs.
Rediscovering the apéritifs of the past
Inspired by the French aperitif traditions of the late 19th century — where fruits, bitter botanicals, and apéritif wines blended into simple, refreshing drinks — Amérisse Cassis reimagines this historic balance.
The richness of blackcurrant is lifted by a selection of traditional bitter botanicals: gentian, artemisia, rhubarb, and angelica. Together, they create a bitter that is fruit-forward, structured, and elegant, equally suited to classic cocktails and contemporary creations.
Crafted with precision
Rooted in tradition, Amérisse combines classic bitter botanicals — gentian, artemisia, rhubarb, and angelica — with the vibrant fruits that define the distillery’s signature style.
This meticulous blend reveals a layered aromatic profile where red fruits, citrus, and botanical bitterness come together with finesse.
Cassis
Armoise
Rhubarbe
Agrumes
Gentiane
Angélique
Tasting notes
Amérisse Cassis is a rich, fruit-forward bitter liqueur.
On the nose, generous blackcurrant leads the way, supported by hints of red berries and candied citrus.
The palate is full and expressive. The natural astringency of blackcurrant provides a perfect counterpoint to the liqueur’s roundness, before the bitterness of gentian unfolds with clarity.
The finish is long and complex, where bitter and fruity notes intertwine, lifted by a bright citrus freshness.
Technical details
ABV : 22 %
Format : 70 cl
Production : Artisanal blending of fruit and botanical infusions in Charente-Maritime
Occasions : Tonic serves, spritzes, revisited Americanos, or signature cocktails.
Style : Fresh, astringent, and fruit-forward, with a complex and balanced bitterness.
AMÉRISSE ORANGE AMÈRE
A handcrafted, sun-kissed aperitif celebrating spritz, French-style.
Amérisse Orange Amère unites the vibrant freshness of bitter orange with the refined depth of botanicals.
A radiant, expressive bitter designed for spritzes, long drinks, and modern aperitif moments.
Orange in all its brilliance
Amérisse Orange Amère is a luminous bitter, fresh and balanced, evoking the golden glow of summer evenings.
Crafted by the Merlet Distillery, it extends the spirit of the Amérisse collection: a refined balance between fruit and bitterness, designed for today’s aperitif rituals. Ideal for spritzes, long drinks, and simple cocktails.
Crafted with precision
Rooted in its Charentais heritage, Amérisse Orange Amère embodies the craft of infusion and distillation with clarity and precision.
Sweet orange and curaçao distillates bring vibrant citrus notes, enhanced by fresh peel infusions for maximum aromatic intensity. Gentian and artemisia provide depth and structure, while angelica elegantly bridges the botanical and fruit notes. Infusions of raspberry, blackcurrant, and apricot add a touch of roundness and indulgence, creating a luminous and perfectly balanced bitter.
Orange
Armoise
Gentiane
Angélique
Abricot
Cassis
Framboise
Tasting notes
Amérisse Orange Amère is a bright and fruit-forward bitter.
On the nose, bitter orange and fresh zest dominate, supported by notes of candied citrus and aromatic herbs.
The palate is lively and balanced, where citrus freshness meets the elegant bitterness of gentian and artemisia.
The finish is long and lightly spiced, leaving a lasting impression of freshness.
Technical details
ABV : 15 %
Format : 70 cl
Production : Artisanal infusion and distillation in Charente-Maritime, with careful attention to fruit and botanicals at every stage
Occassions : Spritzes, long drinks, and signature cocktails.
Style : Fresh and radiant, with elegant bitterness and a subtle fruit-driven finish.
INSPIRATION
Les Cocktails
Amérisse Cassis
Amérisse Cassis Americano
Ingredients
25 ml Amérisse Cassis
25 ml sweet vermouth
Soda water
Method
Build directly over ice.
Add the spirits, top with soda water, stir gently, and garnish with half an orange slice.
Amérisse Cassis Negroni
Ingredients
25 ml Amérisse Cassis
25 ml gin
25 ml sweet vermouth
Method
Build directly in an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice.
Add all ingredients and stir for 10 seconds. Garnish with an orange slice.
Amérisse Cassis Spritz
Ingredients
35 ml Amérisse Cassis
20 ml soda water
Sparkling white wine
Method
Build over ice in a large wine glass
Pour Amérisse Cassis over ice.
Add sparkling wine, then top with soda water. Garnish with an orange wheel.
Amérisse Cassis Tonic
Ingredients
50 ml Amérisse Cassis
Tonic water
Method
Pour Amérisse Cassis over ice.
Top with tonic water and garnish with a lemon wedge.
Amérisse Orange Amère
Amérisse Orange Spritz
Ingredients
45 ml Amérisse Orange Amère
90 ml sparkling white wine
A splash of soda water
Method
Build over ice in a large wine glass
Add Amérisse Orange Amère, sparkling wine, and soda water.
Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.
Amérisse Orange Tonic
Ingredients
50 ml Amérisse Orange Amère
100 ml premium tonic water
Method
Build over ice in a highball glass.
Add Amérisse Orange Amère and top with tonic water.
Stir lightly and garnish with an orange peel or citrus wedge.
Make No Mistake
Ingredients
40 ml Amérisse Orange Amère
20 ml Chevessac Pineau des Charentes Blanc
Premium tonic water
Method
Build over ice in a highball glass.
Add Amérisse Orange Amère, Chevessac Pineau des Charentes Blanc, and tonic water.
Stir gently and garnish with a grapefruit slice.
Recipe by Erwan Le Bonniec & Béranger Roth
Amérisse Sour Spritz
Ingredients
50 ml Amérisse Orange Amère
25 ml Nuage Gin
30 ml lemon juice
15 ml simple syrup
A few drops of foamer
A splash of sparkling wine
Method
Shake all ingredients except the sparkling wine with ice until well chilled and frothy.
Strain into a large wine glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with sparkling wine and stir gently to preserve the bubbles.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Recipe by Bart’s Bottles
An independent family house
For more than 170 years, the Merlet family has cultivated its expertise in distillation, infusion, and the art of blending.
Recognized around the world for its cognacs, liqueurs, and innovative creations, the distillery embraces a demanding approach where technical precision and sensory craftsmanship come together with modernity.
With Amérisse, this expertise finds expression in the world of aperitifs: a luminous and balanced interpretation, guided by the same rigor and commitment.
Contact us
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AMÉRISSE – Distillerie Merlet & Fils
40 Rue de Chevessac
17610 SAINT-SAUVANT
FRANCE
Tel : 33 (0)5 46 91 50 36
