Food - Drink
Give French Suze A Try In Your Cocktails If You Love Campari
By MOLLY HARRIS
If you're a fan of bitter, fragrant Campari, French Suze is a lesser-known liqueur that's similar, but different enough to refresh your palate and shake up your favorite drinks.
Suze is made from gentian root, a bitter herb found in the French Alps that is also often used in Campari, as well as vermouth. Like many liqueurs, it has origins as medicine.
Pharmacist Fernand Moureaux invented Suze in 1885 in Thuir, France. The gentian tonic became very popular, and Moureaux turned it into a liqueur named after his wife, Suzanne.
Both Campari and Suze are bitter, and Suze has a beautiful gold hue to rival Campari's scarlet. However, Suze has a lower alcohol content at just 20%, and it's also sweeter.
Suze's flavor profile is herbal and floral, with notes of fresh greens and citrus. It has a lighter body and smoother finish than Campari, which may be too harsh for some drinkers.
Suze can be used in any cocktail that calls for other bitter liqueurs, such as Aperol or Salers. It can sub in for Campari in a Negroni, or you can simply sip some Suze on the rocks.
The Suze and Aperol Spritz is a refreshing drink that's perfect for a hot day. Simply combine Suze, Aperol, and soda water in a glass with ice, then garnish with an orange slice.
The Suze and Soda is almost the same as a Suze and Aperol Spritz, but drops the Aperol. You can also make a super-easy Suze Spritz with Suze, sparkling wine, and soda water.