Botivo Botanical Aperitivo: Britain's Premium Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
Gold Medal World Alcohol Free Awards 2023 | Hand-crafted on Lannock Farm | Over 1 year production time | 100% natural ingredients | Served in 45 of top 100 restaurants | 0% ABV
Key Product Information
- Producer: Botivo, Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire
- Region: Hertfordshire, England
- Type: Non-Alcoholic Botanical Aperitif
- ABV: 0% (alcohol-free)
- Volume: 50cl (500ml)
- Servings: 20 per bottle
- Base: Aged British apple cider vinegar
- Botanicals: 5 (rosemary, thyme, gentian, wormwood, orange zest)
- Sweetener: Organic wildflower honey
- Production: Small batch, hand-blended
- Awards: Gold Medal World Alcohol Free Awards 2023
- Calories: 44 per serving
Tasting Notes
Nose
Bright citrus with fresh orange zest. Vibrant and inviting with immediate refreshment from the apple cider vinegar base.
Palate
Sweet tang from wildflower honey followed by herbal complexity from rosemary and thyme. Bittersweet backbone from gentian and wormwood creates depth. Multi-layered taste journey.
Finish
Long bittersweet finish with lingering herbal notes. Gentle bitter bite provides aperitif character. Refreshing and satisfying.
What Makes Botivo Special
- Over 1 Year Production: Each batch takes more than a year from start to finish, with apple cider vinegar aged for 12 months and botanical infusions taking 3-6 weeks
- 100% Natural Ingredients: No flavourings, essences, or preservatives. Unique in the non-alcoholic category for using only real ingredients
- Hand-Crafted Small Batches: Every batch made by hand on Lannock Farm in Hertfordshire by founder Sam
- Five Powerful Botanicals: Rosemary, thyme, gentian root, wormwood leaf, and orange zest create complex aperitif character
- Aged Apple Cider Vinegar Base: Aged for one year to soften acidity and develop complexity, then used as the foundation for infusions
- Raw and Unpasteurised: Maintains beneficial properties of apple cider vinegar with antioxidants and digestive benefits
- Restaurant Favourite: Served in 45 of the top 100 UK restaurants, validated by professional taste makers
- Featured by Critics: Praised by Grace Dent (food critic) and Alice Lascelles (FT drinks writer)
- Created with Pleasure in Mind: Not designed for moderation but for full taste experience and hedonistic enjoyment
- Double Strength Intensity: Concentrated like a cordial, providing 20 servings per 500ml bottle
Perfect For
People Who Enjoy:
- Aperitifs like Aperol or Campari
- Negronis and bitter cocktails
- Sophisticated non-alcoholic options
- Craft beverages with complexity
- Artisanal small-batch products
- Natural and preservative-free drinks
Occasions:
- "The Yellow Hour" (clocking off ritual)
- Aperitif before dinner
- Dry January and Sober October
- Pregnancy-friendly celebrations
- Designated driver occasions
- Health-conscious entertaining
How to Enjoy Botivo
Signature Serve
25ml Botivo + 175ml soda water over ice with a generous orange wedge (squeezed). The orange is key to bringing out all flavours.
With Tonic Water
Replace soda with premium tonic water for a more complex, quinine-forward version with added bitterness.
With Ginger Beer
Mix with fiery ginger beer for spicy, warming character. Perfect for colder weather enjoyment.
Non-Alcoholic Negroni
Use Botivo as the bitter component in alcohol-free Negroni variations for authentic aperitif complexity.
With Grapefruit Soda
Combine with grapefruit soda for citrus-forward refreshment with added botanical depth.
As Cocktail Modifier
Add to cocktails (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) for incredible depth and bittersweet complexity.
What Our Customers Say
Customer Rating: 5.0/5 stars (based on 5 verified reviews)
"The best non-alcoholic aperitif that I have found so far. Really complex and interesting taste."
"Delicious alternative to alcohol. My go to drink for the most part"
Customers consistently award perfect 5-star ratings, praising the complexity, taste, and quality as the best non-alcoholic aperitif available.
The Yellow Hour: Botivo's Philosophy
Botivo was created for 'The Yellow Hour,' a play on the golden hour. It's the moment when you clock off from work and ease into your evening. The part of your day you've been looking forward to all day, when you prioritise pleasure and set the stage for something new.
Unlike products focused on moderation or being a lesser alternative, Botivo was designed with pleasure, not restriction, in mind. It's not about what you're missing but about what you're gaining: a truly satisfying, big-sipping botanical drink worthy of special moments with good food, friends, or simply unwinding and savouring the ritual.
Whatever the time on the clock, it's always The Yellow Hour somewhere. Let the brightness begin.
How Botivo is Made
Year 1: Vinegar Ageing - British apple cider vinegar is aged for one full year to soften acidity and develop complexity. This patience creates the smooth, layered base.
Weeks 1-6: Botanical Infusions - Five carefully selected botanicals are infused separately for 3-6 weeks each, depending on the ingredient. Fresh rosemary, thyme, orange zest, gentian root, and wormwood leaf each contribute their unique character.
Balancing: - Organic wildflower honey and fructose are added to balance the bittersweet profile, creating harmony between citrus tang, herbal notes, and gentle sweetness.
Blending: - Everything is hand-blended in small batches on Lannock Farm. No shortcuts, no flavourings, no preservatives. Just time, botanicals, and precision.
Bottling: - Bottled at double strength concentration, providing 20 servings per 500ml bottle. Each serve is approximately 25ml Botivo to 175ml mixer.
About Sam and the Creation of Botivo
Botivo was created by Sam, who founded events business Rum Runner and created drinks for high-profile events including The Royal Wedding in 2018. Sam spent a year researching, crafting, and experimenting to create Botivo with the vision that it would be served to non-drinking guests at high-end events.
The overwhelming advice Sam received was to outsource production and use flavourings and preservatives. But Sam felt this missed the point entirely. The complexity and bite of Botivo's liquid cannot be replicated using shortcuts. Sam spent weeks proving this through trial and error.
Today, Sam makes every batch by hand on Lannock Farm in Hertfordshire, maintaining the commitment to craft and real ingredients that makes Botivo unique in the non-alcoholic category. Co-founder Imme gave Botivo its voice and presence, positioning it not as an alternative but as a statement in its own right.
Digestive Benefits and Wellness
Botivo's raw, unpasteurised apple cider vinegar base provides natural digestive benefits. Apple cider vinegar is packed with antioxidants and beneficial compounds that support gut health. Each serving contains just 44 calories, making it a health-conscious choice that doesn't sacrifice taste or sophistication.
The botanical ingredients also contribute wellness properties. Gentian has traditionally been used as a digestive bitter, while rosemary and thyme offer antioxidant benefits. This proves that sophisticated botanical drinks can be both indulgent and beneficial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does Botivo compare to Seedlip or other non-alcoholic spirits?
A: Botivo is an aperitivo concentrate rather than a spirit replacement. It's designed to be mixed with soda, tonic, or other mixers at a 1:7 ratio, while non-alcoholic spirits are typically used in smaller quantities. Botivo's apple cider vinegar base and bittersweet profile are distinct from distilled non-alcoholic spirits.
Q: Why does it take over a year to make?
A: The apple cider vinegar is aged for one full year to develop complexity and soften acidity. Then botanical infusions take 3-6 weeks each. This patience is essential for the depth of flavour that makes Botivo special.
Q: How many drinks does one bottle make?
A: Each 500ml bottle makes approximately 20 servings when mixed at the recommended ratio of 25ml Botivo to 175ml mixer.
Q: Is the apple cider vinegar taste strong?
A: No. The vinegar is aged for one year specifically to soften the acidity. When properly mixed with the recommended orange wedge, the result is a balanced bittersweet aperitif with citrus and herbal complexity, not a vinegary drink.
Q: Can pregnant women drink this?
A: Yes, Botivo is completely alcohol-free and made with natural ingredients. However, as with any dietary questions during pregnancy, consulting with a healthcare provider is recommended.
Q: Does this need refrigeration?
A: Once opened, store in a cool, dark place and consume within one year. Refrigeration is not required but won't harm the product.
Q: Where is the name "Botivo" from?
A: It's simply "Botanical" and "Aperitivo" combined. Botanicals are the key drivers of taste, and the product was inspired by Italian aperitifs.
Q: Why is it sold in restaurants?
A: Botivo's complexity and craft appeal to professional bartenders and sommeliers. It's served in 45 of the UK's top 100 restaurants because it offers the sophistication their customers expect in a non-alcoholic option.
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