Ghia has been a frontrunner within the non-alcoholic amari house, partially as a result of it’s not a class that invitations a number of competitors. Bitter liqueurs in all probability aren’t one thing the zero-abv set are likely to demand a number of. I’ve admired and loved Ghia as an NA various since its 2020 launch — although I undoubtedly contemplate it an after-dinner digestif, not an aperitif — and was shocked to listen to, given its success up to now, that for 2023 it’s been fully reformulated.
How? “Extra complicated and concentrated,” with the servings per bottle leaping from 10 to 17 (which means you don’t want to make use of as a lot to make a cocktail like a Spritz).
I attempted each the unique Ghia and the brand new Ghia 2.0 facet by facet. Ideas comply with.
To start out with they’re certainly very completely different merchandise, beginning with the colour. Whereas Ghia 1.0 was a muddy, and admittedly considerably unappealing muddy brown colour, the brand new Ghia is a shiny maroon, virtually trying like beet juice. And whereas the previous Ghia has a really bitter nostril stuffed with cloves and ginger, the brand new Ghia leads with its fruitier notes of raspberry — maybe driving that colour shift — earlier than showcasing ginger and a sweeter baking spice high quality.
The palate right here stays bittersweet, however shifted far to the candy facet of that sliding scale. Rather more fruit than within the authentic Ghia hits first, then the cloves and ginger current within the authentic formulation come on sturdy. Bitterness builds with time in glass, although a shiny berry high quality persists. The conclusion finds basic amaro-like bitterness lingering, which once more distracts you from the truth that you’re imbibing one thing with no alcohol in it.
0% abv.
B+ / $38 / drinkghia.com
Ghia Non-Alcoholic Aperitif (2023 Reformulation)
$38
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