Dr. Jaglas San Orangello. Non-alcoholic bitter orange aperitif with herbal spice, dry finish – the base for the Orange Spritz.

Dr. Jaglas San Orangello is a non-alcoholic aperitif from Berlin: 31 percent orange juice with sugar and natural flavor, colored with apple, safflower, lemon, sweet potato, and carrot, 0.0% vol, 500 ml in an apothecary bottle. Not orange juice, not syrup, not soda – a bitterly fresh aperitif for ice, orange zest, and tonic.

San Orangello by Dr. Jaglas is the opposite of what orange usually means in the beverage aisle: sweet, round, a children's drink. The Orangello takes the bitter orange, the zest, and a herbal spice and finishes dry – an aperitif like those served in Italian bars before a meal, only non-alcoholic. Served on ice with an orange zest, it is the drink for people who seek bitterness and, until now, only had the choice between alcohol and juice for their aperitivo.

Bitter orange and zest up front, herbs behind, dry at the end

The Orangello smells of juicy bitter orange and citrus zest, followed by a subtle herbal spice. On the palate, it is lively and clear: a fruity opening, then a fine bitterness that provides length and structure, and a finish that remains dry and fresh. With 14 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, it is the sweetest variety in the San range – diluted with tonic in a glass, the remaining sweetness carries the bitterness rather than masking it.

With 31 percent orange juice, its fruit content is the highest among the San aperitifs; plus there is natural aroma, as stated on the label. Those looking for something fruity and bright for their aperitif are better served with the San Limello with lemon and ginger – the Orangello is the dry, bitter variety in the collection.

On ice with orange zest, or as a spritz with tonic and olive

Classically, the Orangello is served on ice in a glass, with an orange zest that you express over the glass – that’s how it unfolds its full freshness, says Dr. Jaglas, and we feel the same way. For a spritz, top up with tonic or non-alcoholic sparkling wine and garnish with an orange slice or an olive; the olive is the variation for those who want the drink even drier.

With five centiliters per glass, the bottle is enough for ten drinks. It pairs well with small bites: antipasti, olives, salted almonds, a board with salami and pecorino, crostini with tomato. Before a pasta dinner, the Orangello is the aperitif that takes on the role of a classic bitter – red-orange in the glass, tart on the tongue, non-alcoholic.

Our tip: Orangello with tonic, plus a sprig of rosemary and a green olive on a skewer – the aperitivo we recommend with antipasti. Once opened, store in a cool, dark place.

Bitter orange from the Berlin pharmacist family

Dr. Jaglas is a Berlin-based manufactory at Choriner Straße 40, originating from a pharmacist family that has used medieval monastery recipes, classical compendiums, and herbal lore for decades – for high-proof elixirs in apothecary bottles and for the non-alcoholic San aperitifs. Bitter orange and herbs are part of this repertoire; in the Orangello, they become an aperitif that follows in the footsteps of classic Italian aperitivi and is bottled in Berlin.

Dr. Jaglas describes the Orangello as having balance, depth, and a pleasantly dry character – and that is the connection to the company's elixirs: bitterness as a stylistic device, made from fruit and herbs, in a bottle that deserves to stay on the table. Along with Hibiscus, Limello, and Pompello, it is the fourth variety in the San series.

The aperitif for antipasti, pasta dinners, and fans of the bitter

The Orangello is the bottle for people who like bitter flavors and want to go without alcohol during their aperitivo: the evening with antipasti, the pasta dinner with guests who are driving, an after-work drink on the balcony. As a gift, the orange apothecary bottle is the perfect souvenir for Italy lovers who know that bitter moment before a meal. The San Pompello with grapefruit is its bittersweet sister; all varieties can be found on our Dr. Jaglas page.

The Orangello is not suitable for those who expect a sweet orange drink – it is bitter and dry, and it remains that way even with tonic.

Bitter orange, zest, herbs, dry finish – the non-alcoholic aperitif from Berlin for an aperitivo on ice and a spritz with an olive.