Ingredients
- 1 tsp Grenadine Syrup
- 1.5 oz Orange Bitters
- 1 Lime Juice
Instructions
Combine Ingredients:
- In a shaker filled with ice, add 1 tsp grenadine syrup, 1.5 oz orange bitters, and the juice of 1 lime.
Shake Well:
- Shake all ingredients vigorously until well chilled.
Strain and Serve:
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Given the unusual ingredient list, with 1.5 oz of orange bitters as a base, this drink’s origins are murky. It doesn’t align with traditional Amer Picon recipes, which use the eponymous French aperitif as a primary ingredient. This might be a modern invention, a misremembered classic, or a niche creation from a bar experimenting with bitters as a primary component rather than a seasoning.
If we consider its basic structure, it’s a simple sour variant: a bitter base, sweetener, and acid. However, the ‘base’ is an aromatic bitter, not a spirit or vermouth, which makes it an outlier. It shares a basic three-ingredient structure with sours like the Daiquiri or Whiskey Sour, but its core flavor profile is profoundly different due to the intense bitterness. It’s a category unto itself given its unique primary ingredient.
You’d likely find this drink in a bar that prides itself on esoteric or experimental cocktails, or perhaps a place specializing in digestive drinks. It’s not a crowd-pleaser for a casual brunch. This is a drink for a focused tasting or a very specific request from someone who genuinely enjoys extreme bitter notes.
What it tastes like
The first sip delivers an intense punch of concentrated orange bitters, sharp and highly aromatic, quickly followed by the bright zest of fresh lime. The grenadine offers a brief, sweet counterpoint in the mid-palate, but it’s quickly overtaken by the persistent, dry bitterness. The finish is long and tart, leaving a clean, intensely bitter orange and lime impression.
This drink packs a moderate alcoholic punch, landing somewhere around 19% ABV if standard orange bitters are used as the primary liquid. This places it stronger than a typical beer, which often hovers around 4-6%, but below many spirit-forward cocktails that can reach 25% or higher. Its intensity is primarily driven by the concentrated bitter flavor, not solely its alcohol content.
The technique
This is a shaken drink. Combine the grenadine, orange bitters, and fresh lime juice in a shaker with plenty of ice. Give it a vigorous shake until it’s thoroughly chilled, typically 15-20 seconds. Strain the mixture directly into a chilled cocktail glass, such as a coupe or Nick & Nora, without ice. Serve it promptly to enjoy its crisp, cold character.
The single most critical technique here is using freshly squeezed lime juice. Bottled lime juice, with its often stale or artificially tart flavor, will clash harshly with the intense orange bitters. Fresh lime provides a bright, natural acidity and aromatic lift that is essential for cutting through the bitterness and providing balance. Skipping this means a flat, unbalanced, and overly aggressive drink.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Orange Bitters
- Use
- Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6, Angostura Orange, or Fee Brothers Orange. Choose a high quality, aromatic bitter for the best results.
- Skip
- Orange liqueur like Cointreau or Triple Sec, or orange juice. These are entirely different products that will change the drink completely and not yield the intended bitter profile.
- Why
- Orange bitters are the absolute backbone of this drink, providing its defining intense, aromatic bitterness and citrus character. Without them, this cocktail does not exist as described.
Lime Juice
- Use
- Freshly squeezed lime juice is essential. Persian or Key limes work well, depending on availability.
- Skip
- Bottled lime juice, lime cordial, or lime syrup. These lack the fresh, vibrant acidity and aroma needed to balance the intense bitterness.
- Why
- Fresh lime juice provides essential acidity and brightness, cutting through the intense bitterness of the orange bitters and adding a necessary tart counterpoint to the grenadine’s sweetness. It’s crucial for balance.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Sweetened Twist
- A different sweet counterpoint
- Swap the grenadine for a different fruit syrup like raspberry or passionfruit to introduce a new layer of fruitiness and sweetness against the strong bitter base.
Herbal Edge
- Add a layer of aromatic complexity
- Introduce a dash of another aromatic bitter, such as Angostura Aromatic Bitters or a dash of celery bitters, to add more complexity beyond the dominant orange notes.
Lengthened Fizz
- Lighter, effervescent, and less intense
- Top the strained mixture with a splash of soda water or tonic water. This will lighten the intensity, dilute the bitterness slightly, and make it a longer, more refreshing drink.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use simple syrup or agave nectar for sweetness, though you’ll lose the specific fruit note. Raspberry or cherry syrup could offer a similar red fruit profile.
Fresh lemon juice is the best substitute, offering a similar tart acidity, though with a slightly different citrus aroma.
This drink relies entirely on orange bitters as its main component. Without them, you are making a completely different cocktail. If seeking a bitter orange drink, consider an actual Amer Picon or an Italian amaro as a base, but understand the result will not be this drink.
You can stir the ingredients with ice in a mixing glass until well chilled, then strain. It won’t have the same aeration or dilution as a shaken drink, but it will work.
A chilled rocks glass, a small wine glass, or even a shot glass could work in a pinch for serving this intense drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Amer Picon Cocktail?
This particular Amer Picon Cocktail recipe contains 1 teaspoon of grenadine syrup, 1.5 ounces of orange bitters, and the juice of 1 lime.
Is Amer Picon Cocktail alcoholic?
Yes, this drink is alcoholic. If made with standard orange bitters as the primary liquid, it can have an ABV of around 19%.
What does Amer Picon Cocktail taste like?
It tastes intensely bitter and citrus-forward, with a sharp lime tang and a fleeting hint of grenadine sweetness that quickly gives way to a lingering dry bitterness.
How do you make Amer Picon Cocktail?
You combine the grenadine syrup, orange bitters, and lime juice in a shaker with ice, shake vigorously until well chilled, then strain into a cocktail glass.
What kind of glass should I use for Amer Picon Cocktail?
A chilled cocktail glass, such as a coupe or Nick & Nora glass, is ideal for serving this drink without ice.
Can I make a batch of Amer Picon Cocktail?
You can pre-batch the grenadine and orange bitters, but it’s best to add fresh lime juice and shake each serving individually just before serving for optimal flavor and chill.
What is the best orange bitter for this drink?
High-quality aromatic orange bitters like Regans’ Orange Bitters No. 6, Angostura Orange, or Fee Brothers Orange are recommended to achieve the intended intense flavor profile.
Is the Amer Picon Cocktail a classic?
Given its unique ingredient profile, using 1.5 oz of orange bitters as a base is highly unconventional and not typical of historical cocktail recipes. While the name suggests a classic aperitif, this particular formulation is more of an experimental or niche creation.
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