Picon: history, taste and uses of the French bitter liqueur

Picon is a French bitter liqueur made from orange, gentian and cinchona, at 18% ABV (manufacturer’s page). Created in 1837 by Gaétan Picon, it is rarely drunk on its own: its main job is to flavour beer, white wine or cider.

What exactly is Picon?

A bitter liqueur, or amer. Its orange-brown colour and very bitter profile come from three groups of ingredients: bitter orange peel, gentian and cinchona, the same bitter bark that gives tonic water its taste.

It is 18% ABV, in the same range as vermouth and far below whisky. It is an aperitif meant to be mixed, not a digestif to sip.

Where does Picon come from?

Gaétan Picon developed his recipe in Algeria, where he was serving in the French army, and began selling it in 1837 under the name Amer Africain. It first caught on in the army, then in the cafés of northern and eastern France, where it became a bar-counter staple.

The recipe has changed. Today’s Picon, distributed by Campari since it bought the brand from Diageo in 2022, is less bitter and lower in alcohol than the original, something people who knew it thirty years ago often point out.

What does Picon taste like?

Bitter, no question. Orange comes first, sweet and candied, then the gentian takes over and leaves a long bitterness. On its own it is hard going for most people, which is why it is almost always mixed.

How do you drink Picon?

• Picon bière: the most common. Allow 2 to 3cl of Picon depending on the size of the glass. The result comes out at 6 to 7% ABV, barely more than a beer on its own.
• Picon vin blanc: popular in Lorraine and Alsace, with a dry white wine.
• Picon cidre: rarer, mostly in the west of France.
• Picon punch: served in the western United States (Idaho, Nevada, California), a legacy of Basque immigrants, made with Picon, grenadine and brandy.

Picon and Amer Picon: what’s the difference?

None in substance: “Amer Picon” is the historical name, “Picon” the current brand name. Watch out for the product range, though: Picon Bière and Picon Club are two separate products, made to different strengths.

Frequently asked questions

What is the alcohol content of Picon?

The liqueur is 18% ABV. Mixed into a beer, the final glass drops to 6 or 7%, barely above a regular beer.

Can you drink Picon neat?

Technically yes, but its bitterness makes it a mixer. Almost all of it is drunk with beer or white wine.

Where can you buy Picon?

In France, in supermarkets, in the aperitif aisle. Outside France it is hard to find, which explains the many substitute recipes based on Italian amari.

Is Picon French?

The brand is French, but the liqueur was created in Algeria, then under French rule, and sold from 1837.