St. George Bruto Americano

Ready for a bigger, better, bitterer bar? Say hello to Bruto Americano! With a bracing dose of bitterness, a bright pop of citrus, and intriguing sylvan notes inspired by distiller Lance Winters’ formative experiences growing up in California in the 1970s, Bruto is a bitter aperitivo liqueur that makes us as proud as it does thirsty.

The Spirit

We love Italian aperitivos, but we thought there was room in the world for an American aperitivo that expresses a clear point of view and a unique sense of place.

What’s in it?

Growing up in post-Summer-of-Love California, master distiller Lance Winters experienced plenty of sandalwood incense in his formative years. These early olfactory impressions were a big inspiration behind the proprietary blend of herbs, roots, and botanicals that give Bruto its distinctive signature. While we keep most of these under wraps, we will say that the bitterness comes from gentian root; the citrus notes mostly from California-grown Seville orange; and the woodsy notes from balsam fir and Cascara sagrada (bark from the California buckthorn).

The Process

From start to finish, Bruto Americano took about three years to come together. We developed a process where some botanicals are hot-steeped while others are cold-extracted, which allows each one to really shine. The name is a little tongue-in-cheek. Bruto means brutish in Italian, as in “what kind of American would mess with the great Italian aperitivos?” The label is an homage to Italian Futurism. Its design was a collaboration between master distiller Lance Winters, head distiller Dave Smith, and bartender/graphic designer Brandon Josie.

The Experience

Vibrant citrus, with notes of cinnamon, sandalwood, and forest on the nose. Initial palate entry is bitter, followed by a woodsy mid-palate and lingering bitter/citrus finish.

Bruto and Soda is a brilliant session drink. Also recommended in a Negroni, Boulevardier, Americano, and in your favorite Spritzes.