I am going to get this- Blood Orange Liquer

Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur

The backstory

Orange liqueurs remain a mainstay of home bars: After all, you can’t make a margarita without them. But a blood orange liqueur? That’s a whole new crate of oranges, so to speak. The Italian-made Solerno brand ($36.99), which was recently launched nationally, has the field almost entirely to itself. Actually, the spirit’s story goes back a few years: The idea came from an executive at British-based distiller William Grant & Sons who was fond of sailing to Sicily and partaking of the Italian region’s famed fruit — the blood orange. So, he encouraged the company to create a liqueur around it. That said, Solerno isn’t just about blood oranges — there’s Italian lemons and a natural sugar added to the spirit base as well. Surprisingly, the resulting product is fairly clear — Solerno brand ambassador Jackie Patterson says if you hold a glass of it against a white backdrop you’ll see a hint of red. But the packaging — a curvaceous bottle in the style of Italy’s signature Murano glass — has that tell-tale red color. And that makes this Weekend Sip especially timely for the weekend before Valentine’s Day.
What we like about it

There’s no question about it: Solerno delivers a mouthful of the bright, bitter and acidic flavors that we associate with blood oranges. But it’s also got a depth to it as well — the thick texture and warming feel in the mouth put it in a class far above your garden-variety triple sec, the most common of orange liqueurs. (As the Good Spirits News website notes, Solerno has a “quality that is very brandy-like.”) It’s a little much as a stand-alone sip, but it goes perfectly with any kind of dry sparkling white wine. Or even just plain ol’ seltzer — the fizz and bitterness make for a first-rate aperitif. If you’re more in a cocktail frame of mind, Solerno can stand in for any orange liqueur in traditional bar drinks, including, yes, a margarita. As for a “red” cocktail for Feb. 14, you can always add a little blood orange juice or puree to that Solerno-and-sparkling wine combo — it’s what the Solerno folks call a Solerno Bellini. Happy Valentine’s Day!