Brucato Orchards is a California amaro — a bittersweet, herb-infused digestif — and it is poured at Grappa in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Made by Brucato Spirits in the San Francisco Bay Area, it is one of three terroir-driven expressions, this one dedicated to California’s fruit and nut orchards. We list it because it carries the warmth of stone fruit and toasted nuts into the Italian amaro tradition Grappa loves, a sweeter, rounder counterpoint to its herbal siblings.
About the Producer
Brucato Spirits was founded by Sierra and James Clark, who were both raised in California and set out to make amari that taste of home. Rather than work from an Italian template, they begin with California brandy and infuse it with the produce, herbs and botanicals of the state, dedicating each release to a different landscape. Chaparral, Orchards and Woodlands form the core lineup, and the house has since grown into a Bay Area bar and distillery as well.
Style & Production
Orchards starts from a base of California brandy and is infused to evoke the fruit orchards that stretch from the Central Valley to the Coastal Range. Its dominant flavors come from apricot, walnut, Meyer lemon, orange and cinnamon, the rolling hills that turn white with blossom in spring and hang heavy with fruit in summer. The result sits comfortably in the bittersweet amaro family: fruit-forward and warm, yet balanced by a gentle nutty bitterness rather than cloying sweetness.
Tasting Notes
Expect ripe apricot and bright Meyer lemon and orange on the nose, leading into a palate of stone fruit, toasted walnut and a dusting of cinnamon. The bitterness is soft and rounded, framed by the nuttiness, and the finish is warm and lingering — an amaro that drinks almost like dessert by candlelight.
What to Pair It With
As a digestif, Orchards loves the end of the meal. It is a natural with Mama’s Tiramisu, beautiful beside our Charcuterie Board, and a warm finish after Flourless Chocolate Cake. See the full dine-in menu for more.
How It’s Served at Grappa
Brucato Orchards is poured at $12, served neat or over a single large cube as an after-dinner digestif.
FAQ
Where is it from?
It is made by Brucato Spirits in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, using California brandy and locally inspired ingredients.
What does it taste like?
It is fruit-forward and warm: apricot, Meyer lemon and orange, with toasted walnut and cinnamon and a soft, rounded bitterness on the finish.
What makes it distinctive?
Orchards is built around apricot, walnut and citrus, one of Brucato’s terroir expressions designed to capture the flavor of California’s fruit and nut orchards.
When you’re ready, book a table, explore the cocktail & spirits list, and browse the dine-in menu.
