Grassy, Herbal, Bitter Gentian Root Liqueur Adds Unexpected Layers to Cocktails

Liqueurs can be made with all sorts of bittering agents, from wormwood to quinine, but products made predominantly with gentian root lend a pleasant bitter earthiness that works seamlessly in many kinds of cocktails.

Gentian liqueurs are made from the root of the bright yellow gentian flower found in the French mountains, including the Alps and Pyrenees. They’ve been made for hundreds of years by macerating the root in a neutral alcohol along with blends of...