Drink of the Week: Mommenpop Seville Orange Aperitif

In September, as I began packing for six months of travel, I carefully culled my home bar. Which bottles would I put in storage, and which could I not live without? Mommenpop Seville Orange, a tart aperitif from Northern California, fell firmly into the latter category. 

Made from California-grown Seville oranges, this Mommenpop bottle is especially versatile. I’ve turned it into a tangy, low-proof spritz with a generous pour of sparkling water, or sipped it as an after-dinner drink with a large ice cube and a twist of whatever citrus is in the fridge. It’s also a worthy substitute for triple sec or orange curaçao in classic cocktails like the Margarita or Pegu Club. My favorite way to drink it is in a Bicicletta riff: I combine equal-parts Mommenpop Seville Orange and dry white wine in an ice-filled Collins or wine glass and top it with a splash of sparkling water.

Originally from Southeast Asia, Seville oranges are also called bitter and sour oranges. To make this aperitif, Mommenpop’s founder Samantha Sheehan combines locally sourced fruit with a base wine of Napa and Sonoma Chardonnay. “It’s important to me, as a winemaker, to use quality ingredients,” she told me when I dropped by her tasting room in Downtown Napa last year. That effort shows in the glass. Whether you’re painstakingly packing bottles to squeeze into a crowded car (like me!), or just looking for something to brighten your glass, Mommenpop Seville Orange punches above its weight. $38, mommenpop.com