Fabrizia Blood Orange

Fabrizia Blood Orange is a 27% ABV citrus liqueur made in New Hampshire, in the lower-proof range for liqueurs, and the label points to real blood oranges as the flavor source. At that strength it is meant to taste like fruit first and spirit second. Expect the bright, berry-edged orange that blood oranges are known for. Compared with a standard orange liqueur, that usually means a slightly deeper, raspberry-leaning juiciness and a tart edge that stops the sweetness from turning syrupy. The distributor describes it as a balance of sweetness and tartness, so it should taste more like orange juice than orange candy, though it is still a sweetened liqueur and not a dry spirit. The lower proof and the fruit-forward profile suit it to mixing better than to the role of a classic triple sec. It can stand in for orange liqueur in a margarita or a Cosmopolitan, where it adds a rosier color and a sharper fruit note. In a sidecar-style drink with brandy or bourbon and lemon, it brings the same orange character with a little more tartness. Because it is already juicy, you can usually cut back on added simple syrup, so taste the drink before sweetening it. It also works as a modifier in an Aperol-style spritz, where a small measure rounds out the bitterness with fruit. For the simplest service, pour it over a large ice cube in a rocks glass and add a thin orange wheel or a twist. Chilling it in the freezer or fridge before pouring also helps, since a cold liqueur tastes less sweet and the citrus stays clean. To lengthen it, combine roughly one part liqueur with two to three parts club soda or dry sparkling wine in a wine glass or highball. Soda gives a light, low-sugar spritz, and sparkling wine makes something closer to a blood orange mimosa. Because it is sweet and citrusy, it pairs well with foods that can handle both. Dark chocolate, almond cake, and soft cheeses like mascarpone or ricotta are natural matches. A small pour over vanilla gelato also works well. Once opened, keep the bottle sealed and out of direct light. Liqueurs this fruit-driven keep their best flavor if used within a reasonable time after opening.