●THE AMARO ATLAS

RECORD bitter-des-diablerets · EVIDENCE GRADE B · UNCLAIMED · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-09

Bitter des Diablerets

Satigny (Geneva) · Switzerland · 46.217, 6.033

REGION: central europeTRADITION: GentianeWEBSITE ↗

ZONE 01 — VERIFIED FACTS

Founded
1876, by François Leyvraz in Aigle, Vaud, reputedly from a recipe obtained from a Dutch traveller.B·2
Ownership transfer
Production remained with the Leyvraz family until 1976, when Escher SA (Escher Vins, Satigny/Vernier, Geneva) took over and slightly modified the recipe.B·2
ABV reduction
Original strength was 22% ABV; the current Escher SA production is 18% ABV.B·2
Core ingredients
Gentian, orange peel, mountain herbs and roughly 15 different roots; the exact formula is kept secret.B·2
Regional identity
Described as the only aperitif of French-speaking Swiss (Romande) origin, historically consumed mainly around Aigle and the Vaud Chablais.B·2
Cultural use
Used as a defining ingredient in the regional confection/drink known as "Bouchon vaudois."B·2
Line extension
Diabolique, launched 2016, is a 35% ABV variant of the house recipe with a bolder, more intense composition and a glow-in-the-dark bottle.A·1
Serving tradition
Traditionally served neat, on the rocks, with mineral water, or mixed with cola/lemonade in local preparations such as "Surf" and "Planachos."A·1

ZONE 02 — AI-COLLATED SUMMARY

AI-ASSISTED · FROM GRADED PUBLIC SOURCES

Bitter des Diablerets is a Swiss alpine bitter aperitif invented in 1876 in Aigle, Vaud, and now produced by Escher SA in the Geneva area at 18% ABV, down from its original 22%. Built on gentian, orange peel, mountain herbs and around fifteen undisclosed roots, it is regarded as the only aperitif native to French-speaking Switzerland and remains tied to regional traditions such as the Bouchon vaudois. A stronger 2016 line extension, Diabolique, offers the same bitter alpine-herbal character at 35% ABV.

AI-collated from the graded sources below; operator review pending

ZONE 03 — PRODUCER-SUBMITTED NOTES

This record is unclaimed. This space opens to the producer when they claim it. Producer claiming is coming soon.

PRODUCTS ON RECORD

Bitter des Diablerets

18% ABV

BOTTLE IMAGE
ADDED BY THE PRODUCER

SUBCATEGORY aperitivoRING coreTRADITION GentianeSELF-IDENTIFIED “Swiss alpine bitter aperitif”

The original 1876 recipe, now produced by Escher SA at 18% ABV (reduced from the historical 22%). A brown-coloured, spirit-based bitter aperitif built on gentian root, orange peel, mountain herbs and roughly fifteen further roots, the precise formula kept a closely guarded trade secret. Historically the only aperitif of French-speaking Swiss (Romande) origin, centred on Aigle and the Vaud Chablais, and a defining ingredient of the regional cocktail "Bouchon vaudois."

BOTANICAL MATRIX — 4 GRADED EDGES

  • Gentian root · primary bittering agentB·2
  • Orange peel · citrus top noteB·2
  • Mountain herbs · alpine herbal characterB·2
  • Approx. 15 further roots (undisclosed) · supporting bittering/earthy baseB·2

DESCRIPTORS

  • bitter ▮▮▮▮▮A·1
  • herbal ▮▮▮▮▮A·1
  • rooty/earthy ▮▮▮▮▮A·1
  • citrus-tinged ▮▮▮▮▮A·1

Diabolique

35% ABV

BOTTLE IMAGE
ADDED BY THE PRODUCER

SUBCATEGORY — (family ring)RING familyTRADITION GentianeSELF-IDENTIFIED “Modernised alpine bitter, higher-strength line extension”

Launched in 2016, 140 years after the original, as a stronger, more intense reinterpretation of the house recipe at 35% ABV. Shares the same bitter, alpine-herbal, gentian-driven backbone as the original Bitter des Diablerets but presented in a bolder, higher-proof format, including a glow-in-the-dark bottle motif tied to the brand's devil emblem.

BOTANICAL MATRIX — 3 GRADED EDGES

  • Gentian root · primary bittering agent (shared house base)A·1
  • Orange peel · citrus note (shared house base)A·1
  • Mountain herbs · alpine herbal character (shared house base)A·1

DESCRIPTORS

  • bitter ▮▮▮▮▮A·1
  • alpine-herbal ▮▮▮▮▮A·1
  • bold/intense ▮▮▮▮▮A·1

SERVES

Neat or on the rocks

producer
  • · Bitter des Diablerets
  • · ice (optional)

Serve chilled or over ice as a straightforward aperitif or digestif

Surf

producer
  • · 1/3 Bitter des Diablerets
  • · 2/3 cola

Build over ice

Bouchon vaudois

canonical
  • · Bitter des Diablerets
  • · regional preparation, exact recipe varies

Traditional Vaud confection/drink pairing in which Bitter des Diablerets is a defining ingredient

ZONE 04 — COMMUNITY TASTING NOTES

RESERVED — community notes open in V2 with moderation and bias handling. The contributions ledger is already recording.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Where is Bitter des Diablerets made?
Bitter des Diablerets is made in Satigny (Geneva), Switzerland.
What style of amaro is Bitter des Diablerets?
On The Amaro Atlas, Bitter des Diablerets is recorded in the core ring, aperitivo subcategory, within the Gentiane tradition. The producer describes it as "Swiss alpine bitter aperitif".

SOURCES — A–D GRADED (4)

  1. [1]ABitter des Diablerets — official site · Escher SA (Escher Vins) · producer-official · accessed 2026-07-09
  2. [2]BBitter des Diablerets — Patrimoine culinaire suisse · Patrimoine culinaire suisse / Swiss National Culinary Heritage Inventory · database · accessed 2026-07-09Swiss national culinary heritage inventory entry; independent of producer, high reliability for history and ingredient list.
  3. [3]CLe Bitter des Diablerets · Alpes Vaudoises tourism board · press · accessed 2026-07-09Regional tourism-board page; used only for corroborating context, not as primary sourceId for facts in this record.
  4. [4]CBitter des Diablerets · Cuisine Helvetica (blog) · other · accessed 2026-07-09Secondary blog corroboration of history and serving customs; not used as sole source for any fact.

A producer-official / regulatory · B reputable published · C secondary · D community/unverified