Quinquina & Americano
by Brand
Unavoidably, this guide is not exhaustive. Some quinquinas are regional products that don’t get exported to the U.S., and admittedly, the listings here are biased toward the U.S. marketplace. However, the marketplace is fluid, and we will add more listings as adequate information becomes available.
Bonal Gentiane Quina
(bone-ALL)
From St. Laurent du Pont, beginning 1865. A full-bodied quinquina that balances quinine and gentian botanicals.
Web site: http://www.alpenz.com/
Byrrh
(BEER)
Created in Thuir, France, beginning 1866. Rarely imported to the USA. Byrrh is a rare example of an aperitif based on red mistelle.
Web site: http://www.byrrh.com/
Cocchi Americano
(KOE-kee)
Created in Asti, Piedmont, Italy, beginning 1891. Based on Moscato di Asti.
Web site: alpenz.com or http://www.cocchi.com
Dubonnet
(DOO-bo-nay)
Originally marketed as Quinquina Dubonnet and created in Paris, France in 1846. Since World War Two, all Dubonnet in the US market has been produced under license in Kentucky by the Heaven Hill Distillery, and there are questions about the integrity of the product.
Note that the classic Dubonnet wine is the “rouge” (red) expression. The “blanc” (straw-colored) product is a peculiar American market spinoff.
- Rouge
- Rouge (US market)
- Blanc (US market)
Web site: http://www.doyoudubonnet.com/
Lillet
(lee-LAY)
Produced in Podensac, Bordeaux, France, from 1887.
Lillet is included here with ambivalence. Lillet isn't really a quinquina any more: the producers stripped the quinine bitterness from their product and the word “Kina” from their label in the early 1980s and what they sell today is something more like a dessert wine. While their wines are popular, this development has caused significant problems for mixologists hoping to reproduce various cocktails designed around the brand when it was a quinquina. Until Lillet re-introduces Kina Lillet, mixologists may wish to experiment with Cocchi Americano.
- Blanc
- Rouge [introduced in 1962]
- Cuvée Réserve Jean de Lillet
Web site: http://www.lillet.com/
St. Raphaël
(SAWN raw-FEL)
Created in Lyon, France, in 1830. Originally marketed as Quinquina St. Raphaël. Rarely imported to the USA. Current production status is unclear.
- Rouge
- Ambre
Both expressions of St. Raphaël are based on mistelle. Rouge St. Raphaël is actually based on a red mistelle.
Web site: http://www.straphael.fr/
