Mystery Beverage
 

When I was in Italy, we were served a complimentarly beverage before dinner at our hotel restaurant in Sorrento that I had never had before. I guess I was trying to act cool or something because I did not ask what it was, but I'd like to find out. Not because I liked it, it was quite disgusting.

It was a clear drink, served in a champagne type flute. When first tasted it tasted sweet and was ok, but the aftertaste was extremely bitter and unpalatable to me. It was the most bizarre drink I have ever had. I'm sure some Fodorites out there must know this drink. Please help to identify it!

Sounds like it could be Fernet Blanca.

Was it clear as in colorless or did it have a color?

If it was bright red, it could have been a Campari soda.

If it was reddish, it could have been Aperol with soda or as a spritz (Aperol, white wine or prosecco and a bit of soda), but a spritz is a Venetian drink, so it would surprise me to find it in Sorrento.

If it was greenish, it could have been Cynar with soda.

If it was brownish, it could have been Punt e Mes with soda.

Punt e Mes is a red Italian vermouth with bitters added.

Campari, Aperol and Cynar are all Italian aperitivo drinks with secret formulas of various kinds of (bitter) herbs. I'm not sure what the main ingredient in Campari is; in Aperol, it's bitter orange; and in Cynar, it's artichoke.

Normally, none of these would be served in a champagne flute, but maybe the restaurant was trying to be elegant.

All of them can also be used to make various kinds of cocktails.

In Sorrento it seems most likely it was a Campari & soda - but then I can't imagine it tasted sweet at first - it really is bitter. (And though I love it I know it is an aquired taste - like olives or caviar.)

The only thing I can think of that would be clear and served in a champagne flute in Italy would be Prosecco, the Italian version of champagne. Did it have any fizz to it?

What about Fernet Branca?
http://itotd.com/articles/604/fernet-branca/

It was a colorless drink. I don't think it was Prosecco because the following night we were served Prosecco and I asked what it was before I drank it. Prosecco was quite tasty.

The thing that was so strange about it was it started off tasting decent, but the aftertaste would burn a hole in your throat. Maybe it was Fernet Blanca. I don't know.

Fernet Branca is brown, and it's served more as a digestivo than an aperitivo,

Colorless and "burns a hole in your throat" would fit grappa, a distilled spirit similar to marc in France.

But I wouldn't call grappa bitter, and it's normally also served as a digestivo. Nor would it be served in a champagne flute.

This is, indeed, a mystery...

Could have been tap water !!! ;)

Anisette? I can't stand the stuff, but some people love it. Very Italian.

http://www.drinksmixer.com/desc165.html

If it was served to you without asking, it may be a unique item from that hotel restaurant. Also, it is probably served to everyone, so checking back with them by email or checking its website may give you the answer.

If you find out, come back and tell us!

Wild guess...

Limoncello?

Eloise, campari is gentian based, and that's why I like Suze in France.

I also enjoy Campari (usually as Campari and soda). It is bitter, but the base is also sweet. Sweet and bitter and great with salty nibbles.

I like Campari too and I often have it with tonic. I had no idea it was gentian based, though.

Lemoncello is yellow

Martini e Rossi bianco..a vermouth?

But that normally would not be served in a champagne glass. A mystery!

Compari is made red from some kind of an insect from SA. Shudders, I am glad I did not know that for decades, lol.

What restaurant in Sorrento was this Sullysioux?

"In Sorrento it seems most likely it was a Campari & soda - but then I can't imagine it tasted sweet at first - it really is bitter. (And though I love it I know it is an aquired taste - like olives or caviar."

Olives and caviar are an acquired taste?

Yes, I would have to agree that caviar in aparticular could be an acquired taste unless one naturally likes eating fish eggs.

As to the olives..there are some types people love and others they can't stand.

Possibly a grappa? But I wouldn't say the first taste is sweet - powerful yes, sweet no. But at least it "is" colorless.

KC

Grappa is very common in Italy & was my first guess as well. I've not seen it served in a flute though.