Picon Bière Liqueur

Get your Beer, cher ami, we're mixing it with an iconic French bitter.

Acquired by the Campari Group in 2022, Picon was invented in 1837 by Gaétan Picon, a French cavalry sergeant who was also an apprentice at the distilleries of Aix-en-Provence, Toulon, and Marseille. After serving in Algeria, he created the recipe for Picon, a flavored orange-based Bitter of a caramel hue that was traditionally enjoyed as an Aperitif and because it contains quinine, it was popular in Africa for warding off malaria. Today, it’s traditionally paired with Beer in the East and North of France. Picon actually went on to open a number of distilleries in Algeria, Constantine, Bône and Algiers. To this day, Picon is still one of the most popular Aperitifs in France.

The original Picon is crafted from a base of dried herbs and fresh oranges, which are dried and mixed with a base Spirit, gentian, and quinquina. There are currently two versions of this bitter Liqueur available: one to be mixed with Wine and cocktails and the other to be mixed with Beer. As the name suggests, Picon Bière will make a wonderful pair for your Pilsner or Wheat Beer.