Tempus Fugit Kina L'aero D'or Aperitif

We were looking for a replacement for Kina Lillet in the Corpse Reviver 2 recipe. We had been using Cocchi Americano which works well enough but found Kina L'Aero D'Or to offer a little more taste and definitely more color in a side-by-side comparison. This was also true when sampling the two neat. Kina L'Aero D'Or has a little more to offer in both taste and color.

Muddled jalapeño flesh
Two dash orange bitters
1/2 lime
1/2 grapefruit shrub
1 ounce Kina, El Avion
1 1/2 ounce terrier gin
Shake double strain into coup

I love this either as the base for a Corpse Reviver 2 or as a substitute for vermouth in a Martini. It is more bitter than Cocchi Americano and most dry vermouths I've had (in a very pleasant way). It has replaced dry vermouth in most contexts for me. It is also good when mixed with soda water

the thick, velvety texture is wonderful – I've particularly enjoyed it in martinis with the dry vermouth split 50/50 with kina

I read about this liquor in a cocktail blog as I was looking for a seasonal corpse reviver recipe for spooky Halloween season (at home). So happy to have found it and sent bottles to friends !!

Not sure what I was expecting, but this has a lovely almost oily texture, the slightly bitter marmalade finish that BB described, and was marvelous in this “Queen-Kina” spritzer: https://punchdrink.com/recipes/queen-kina/.

Looking forward to trying it on its own or with club soda and a citrus twist. From the first sip we knew this one would be a keeper.

I like their Corpse Reviver No. 2 on the back of the bottle, but also use it when blood oranges are in season for a Blood Orange martini, 2.25 oz Vodka, .25 oz St. Germaine, .5oz Tempus Fugit Kina L’Aero D’Or and the juice of one blood orange shaken with ice.

Kina L'aero d'Or is a fantastic addition to any bar. It shines in a Vesper, or Twentieth Century, but it is absolutely excellent and elegant in ANY cocktail that looks to a quinone based flavor. I had moved away from Lillet Blanc to Cocchi Americano, which was an improvement, but the Kina is the high trump here, and perfectly balances the butter quinones with a delicate sweetness.

I’ve been drinking a lot of Amare and vermouths lately. I enjoy the botanicals, the bitter and the sweetness. This is a quinquina so it is more bitter than amaro. But the botanicals are complex and it still has some sweetness. It has become my go-to aperitif