Aperitivo is a style of bitter liqueur that is relatively low in alcohol (16% by volume), moderately bitter, and moderately sweet. Bordiga’s artisanal version is made entirely in their distillery, with no purchased infusions; the best-known commercial example of the Aperitivo style is Aperol. The predominant flavors of Bordiga’s Aperitivo are aromatic herbs, citrus (mostly bitter orange peel) and rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb root). It is used in a number of classic Italian aperitifs, such as the Spritz (three parts Prosecco, two parts Aperitivo, one part soda water, over ice) or by itself with a splash of soda water.

It is colored with Carmine, a bright red dye that comes from the carminic acid of insects that live on cactus plants in Mexico and South America. It's also known as cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, or carmine lake.