Bark & Bitter: Our Story

Bark & Bitter is an award-winning non-alcoholic spirits company founded in 2019 by Nick Nemeth in St. Catharines, Ontario, and now based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. We make Novara Aperitivo and a line of 0% ABV cocktail bitters and mixers from whole botanicals — with no artificial flavours, extracts, or essences.

Stay Bitter or Do Better.

Since the beginning, Bark & Bitter has offered bartender-crafted, 100% non-alcoholic ingredients and mixers, made from whole botanicals with no artificial flavours, extracts, or essences. Through our Poured With Purpose platform, we give back a portion of proceeds from every sale to support mental health in the hospitality industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Novara Aperitivo?

Novara Aperitivo is a non-alcoholic (0% ABV) Italian-style red bitter aperitivo made by Bark & Bitter. It was created as an alcohol-free alternative to the bittersweet aperitivo at the heart of a classic Negroni, made from whole botanicals with no artificial flavours or extracts.

Yes. Every Bark & Bitter product — Novara Aperitivo and our full line of cocktail bitters and mixers — is 100% non-alcoholic (0% ABV).

Yes — Novara was designed for exactly that. Combined with a non-alcoholic gin and vermouth alternative, it makes an alcohol-free Negroni with the bittersweet flavour and texture of the original.

Bark & Bitter started in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2019 and is now based in Niagara Falls, in Ontario's Niagara Region, Canada.

Bark & Bitter was founded in 2019 by Nick Nemeth, a bartender with more than 20 years of hospitality experience and formal training in brewing and distilling.

Yes, across multiple international competitions. To name a few, Novara Aperitivo was named Non-Alcoholic Elixir of the Year at the 2024 New Orleans Spirits Competition and took Platinum plus Best in Show, Non-Alcoholic Spirit Alternative at the 2024 LA Spirits Awards. Our Honestly Aromatic Bitters won the Trophy for Best Cocktail Ingredient at the 2024 World Alcohol-Free Awards, and our Boker's Best Cardamom Bitters earned Platinum at the 2026 LA Spirits Awards.

Bark & Bitter makes Novara Aperitivo and a range of 0% ABV non-alcoholic cocktail bitters and mixers, all crafted from whole botanicals with no artificial flavours, extracts, or essences.

Poured With Purpose is Bark & Bitter's giving-back platform. A portion of proceeds from every purchase supports mental health initiatives for the hospitality industry, including partners such as Not 9 to 5.