Drinker type · Strong & Herbaceous · 2 min read

The Herbal Wanderer

You like your drinks the way you like your books: serious, layered and a little bit bitter.

You seek strong, earthy pours that taste like a walk through the garden.

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Made of
  • Rosemary
  • Chartreuse
  • Oak barrel
Sweet3/10
Sour3/10
Boozy9/10

Who you are

Bitter, herbal, strong and stirred. You want a drink with depth: vermouth, amaro, green Chartreuse, a spirit that has spent time in oak. One glass, slowly, and a lot to think about.

You are the one who reads the back label. Dark chocolate, tonic, black coffee: you learned early that bitter is just another word for interesting. Bartenders relax when you sit down, because you know what you want.

You might be one if…

  1. You take your coffee black and your chocolate at 85%.
  2. You have a favourite amaro, and you can spell it.
  3. A drink served "up" with no garnish sounds perfect.
  4. You order a Negroni without looking at the menu.
  5. You like a drink you can still taste ten minutes later.

How you order

Head for the stirred section: Negronis, Manhattans, anything with vermouth, Campari, amaro or Chartreuse. Ask for it "spirit-forward" and the bartender will know you mean business.

Set the scene

Your perfect night

Where

A quiet bar with a long shelf of bottles and an old wooden counter.

When

Aperitivo hour, or the last drink before home.

Soundtrack

Vinyl soul, old Italian songs, a quiet room.

With

Someone who likes a long conversation.

Why you love it

Bitterness is an acquired taste. Most people learn to love it slowly, with coffee, dark chocolate or tonic. You just learned faster.

Bitter drinks are built from herbs, roots and peels: vermouth, Campari, amaro, Chartreuse. Time in oak barrels adds vanilla and spice. Bitterness also gets your appetite going, which is why Italians drink it before dinner.

What to eat with it

  • Olives and salty crisps
  • Cured meats
  • Aged parmesan
  • Bitter chocolate
Read the bar

Green flags, red flags

Stay, you're in good hands
  • A long list of vermouths and amari
  • Drinks stirred, not shaken, and served very cold
  • Big, clear ice cubes
Maybe order a beer
  • A Negroni shaken until cloudy
  • Warm vermouth from an old open bottle
  • A Manhattan with a neon cherry

Speak bartender

Three words that get you exactly what you want.

Up
Chilled with ice, then served without ice in a stemmed glass.
Stirred
Mixed gently with ice for a silky, clear drink. The opposite of shaken.
Amaro
An Italian bitter liqueur made with herbs and roots, sipped after dinner.

Myth vs truth

People think

Strong drinks are just about the alcohol.

Actually

The best strong drinks are about depth. A good Negroni or Manhattan has layers: bitter, sweet, spice and wood, all changing as the ice melts.

Your superpower

You know what you want, and you order it with one word.

Your weak spot

Anything with a paper umbrella. You'll stare at it like it's a puzzle.

Your shortlist

Cocktails made for you

Ready for something new?

Try a Naked and Famous

The same herbal backbone, made bright with lime and a breath of smoke. Strong, but lively.

See the recipe →
Your people

Who to drink with

Your drinking buddy

The Smoky Rebel

You're drawn to bold, tart drinks with a fire-kissed edge.

Smoky & TartYour opposite. Swap one drink.

The Sweet Adventurer

You love juicy, easy-drinking cocktails bursting with fruity charm.

Sweet & Fruity
Raise a glass
“Cin cin. To bitter, and better.”
Not sure this is you?

Take the 30-second quiz

Four questions about snacks and sips. Or go deeper with the full quiz, the same one the Mixlio app uses.

Start the quizSee all six types