Stroll into nearly any Italian restaurant in the country and you\u2019ll likely get a glimpse at a row of oddly shaped bottles sitting in the oft-forgotten back bar.<\/p>\n
Those bottles contain grappa, a spirited sip most often enjoyed after a lengthy dinner when belts start feeling tight, when diners recline in their seats taking lazy last bites of half-eaten desserts.<\/p>\n
Grappa is enjoyed as a digestif, though its ability to aid digestion after a large meal is debatable. It is often enjoyed neat with a twist of lemon; many imbibers combine it with espresso to make a caff\u00e8 corretto.<\/p>\n
With roots that reach back at least as far as the 14th century, grappa is arguably Italy\u2019s oldest known spirit. It\u2019s made from distilled grape pomace (the skins, seeds, and stems left over from winemaking). Clear in color and bottled between 70 to 120 proof, its high alcohol content brings out subtle floral flavors and delicate fruit notes from its base material. Its story is one of innovation and sustainability; the use of grape pomace is one of the earliest examples of upcycling ingredients.<\/p>\n
Although it\u2019s traditionally produced in Italy, American distillers are writing the next chapter of grappa\u2019s story as they craft and bottle exciting new expressions of the digestif. Here, we\u2019re showcasing three American grappa reimagining the category.<\/p>\n Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n Finger Lakes Distilling Riesling Grappa<\/strong> $33<\/em><\/p>\n Produced in New York\u2019s Finger Lakes region, this crystal clear grappa is as delicate as the Riesling grapes from which it\u2019s distilled. With a gently perfumed vegetal note complemented by restrained minerality, Finger Lakes Distilling\u2019s grappa holds its own in competition among its Italian forebears.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/assets.bonappetit.com\/photos\/691f8e23a33a7daa92a0d4f8\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/ba0226-american-grappa_INSET_V2_110625_3236_VOG_final.jpg\"\/)
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