Bitter, Pescaro, Peach Aperatif Wine, Pietro Nicola, 50cl, 22%

Tasted: September 2025.

You need this range in your drinks cupboard.

Peach, Bitterness & A Modern Classic: Meet Pietro Nicola Pescaro

Every now and then, a drink comes along that makes you stop and ask: what exactly is this, when do I drink it, and how much of it should I have? Pietro Nicola Pescaro is one of those bottles. And the answer, we’d argue, is as often as possible, in whatever way you like.

Launched in June 2020, Pescaro is the third member of the Pietro Nicola range of Aperitivi & Digestivo, crafted by the team at The House of Botanicals in Aberdeen. It’s inspired by two seemingly different worlds: rare old bottles of British Peach Bitters from the mid-20th century, and the fortified & aromatised wines adored across Italy. Somehow, Pescaro manages to straddle both traditions while tasting entirely modern.

Strong, But Stylishly European

At 22% ABV, Pescaro sits in that sweet spot: stronger than a wine, lighter than a spirit. You can sip it chilled straight from the bottle, but it’s not the sort of thing you knock back — this is a drink to savour, to linger over, to let unfold in the glass. It’s strong, but not harsh; bitter, but rounded; fruity, but never sweet. It has that unmistakably European feel — complex, food-friendly, and made for conversation. And yes, it may be from Aberdeen, but we’re counting that as Europe when it tastes this continental.

The Peach & The Bitter

The name tells you most of the story: pesca (peach) and amaro (bitter). Pescaro begins with English peach wine, then layers in an intricate blend of botanicals. Wormwood and gentian root bring the classic bite you expect in an aperitif. Chamomile and elderflower soften the edges with a floral lift. Herbs like sage, marjoram, and fennel add savoury depth, while lemon balm and lemon peel bring brightness. The result is balanced, aromatic, and — frankly — captivating. That wormwood note in particular has a way of catching your attention sip after sip.

How To Drink It

The beauty of Pescaro is its versatility. Pour it over ice and you’ve got a refreshing, bittersweet sipper. Skip the ice and chill the bottle for something more intense and neat. Top it with soda or tonic and you’ve got a highball that makes the most of those botanical layers. Or, if you’re in the mood to experiment, drop it into classic cocktails in place of vermouth or amaro — it makes for a wonderfully modern Negroni, Spritz, or even a Peach Manhattan twist.

And if you want to get really posh about it? Serve it with friends before dinner. There’s something about that shared first drink of the evening — cold glass in hand, laughter in the air — that Pescaro seems designed for.

A Range Worth Exploring

Pescaro may be our focus here, but it’s worth noting that the Pietro Nicola range as a whole is quietly redefining how we think about aperitifs in the UK. Each bottle revives a forgotten style, reimagined for today’s drinker. Pescaro, though, might just be the most intriguing of them all — a peach aperitif that manages to feel both timeless and entirely new.

So, what is it? It’s an aperitif. When do you drink it? Before dinner, after dinner, or in a cocktail whenever you feel like it. How much should you drink? Enough to remember that bitterness can be beautiful — especially when it’s peach-led and poured with a smile.

Pietro Nicola Pescaro — 50cl · 22% ABV. Available now at The Posh Off Licence.