Ah, Cynar... how I love thee. The preeminent artichoke-based liqueur, this is the vaunted 70 proof (35% ABV) version of it, widely used as a straight substitute for Campari. In fact, this is made by Campari, it's compromised of 13 herbs and plants, chief among them being artichoke.
Used in many many cocktails (even more during the hipster cocktail explosion of the 2000s/2010s), Cynar has a very distinctive taste that really needs to be experienced, and can be considered both an aperitif and digestif. Apparently Italians have been making artichoke liqueurs for centuries. Let's immediately sip some:
Nose: Sweet and bitter, both. Syrupy sugar (simple syrup), coffee grounds, bitter baker's chocolate, and tons of forest herbs and roots.
Mouthfeel: Heavily syrupy.
Palate: Sugar sweet gives way to bracing bitter. Surprisingly rounded. The sugar takes the sting out of the bitter artichoke; the artichoke gives tremendous depth to the sugar. They work hand-in-hand. It's a great liqueur. Hints of cola!
Finish: Actually quite long. Bitter roots carry through on and on and on.
Verdict: A definitive digestif, comparable to Campari. Highly recommended for scotch drinkers, as it provides all kinds of new angles and flavors to consider.
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