I was just reading over the posts here and I had to giggle at all of the Beverly posts (the drink from Italy).
Being Italian, I think I need to set this straight.
The reason that the drink is bitter is because it is an appertif- which means that it is drank after a meal to help wash it down and just to have a nice finish to the meal.
There are alot of Italian drinks that do the same thing- a lot of them alcoholic- like the bitter apertif Campari, and the licorice tasting Sambuca.
Bitter is a much more previlant flavor in Italy than it is here in the US, and that is why it is so popular there.
Personally, I *LOVE* Beverly, and I actually have a funny story about it.
My husband, our friend Jon, and I were at Epcot years ago, when it was still Ice Station Cool.
My hubby was out of work and broke (he had gotten an annual pass while he still had a job) and I explained to him that if he drank a whole glass (those little paper glasses, I would guess about 4-6 oz) of Beverly with *NO* chaser and *NO* water afterwards, I would buy him lunch.
He did it, and I bought him lunch, but it was worth it just to watch his face. And I am still not sure he has ever forgotten or forgiven.

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