Bitter, Caffe Margaux, Aperatif Wine, Pietro Nicola, 50cl, 22%

Tasted: September 2025.

Pietro Nicola Caffè Margaux: Coffee, Bittersweet, Brilliant

Some drinks just make sense at the end of the evening. Pietro Nicola Caffè Margaux is one of them — coffee, bittersweet depth, and a gentle warmth that ties everything together.

Launched in March 2025, Caffè Margaux is the second in the Pietro Nicola Aperitivi & Digestivo range. Where Pescaro revived peach, Margaux focuses on coffee, giving us an aromatic and versatile amaro built for sipping, mixing, and sharing.

What’s Inside

At its core are barrel-rested Yirgacheffe coffee beans from Ethiopia. Around them, a blend of botanicals: juniper, green cardamom, star anise, cacao nibs, vanilla, orange peel, lemon peel, and Demerara sugar. Together they create something that’s neither a syrupy coffee liqueur nor a harsh bitter — instead, a drink with structure, balance, and flavour.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Freshly ground espresso, chocolate-coated hazelnut.
• Taste: Bittersweet coffee, creamy vanilla, spice from cardamom, orange warmth, piney lift.
• Finish: Long, rich, and lingering with coffee and cacao.

I’d call it “a palatable café tequila” — strong but approachable, smooth.

How To Drink It

Caffè Margaux works three ways:

• Neat or over ice – chilled for pure flavour.
• Highballs & sangarees – longer, lighter serves.
• Cocktails – the Caffè Negroni is a standout: gin, vermouth, Margaux, stirred over ice, garnished with orange zest and dark chocolate. It also shines in a Revolver or as a smart substitute for coffee liqueur.

Food Pairing

Coffee and cheese? Yes. Nutty, earthy cheeses like Grana Padano, Asiago, or Gouda sit perfectly with the roasted depth and bittersweet edge.