Italian Cocktails

On our first trip to Italy, I fell madly in love with the Spritz! Crisp, fresh, cold and oh so tasty. This is Living La Dolce Vida!

I really enjoy them around 3-4 pm served with complimentary nuts, chips or other snacks. The Italians generally eat later than Americans. Like 8 o’clock, so a mid afternoon snack and beverage is perfect to tide one over.

On our trip this year it was July. Full sun and very warm. A Spritz break was a great cool off after plenty of site seeing in Milan and Venice. Maybe that was just my excuse to enjoy a Spritz!!

Back in the USA, and unless you hunt down the items to make them at home, you just won’t find them. Sad. I do make them at home and here is a simple recipe from my Spritz book.

Spritz

2 oz Aperol
4 oz Prosecco
2 oz Club Soda
Ice
Orange garnish

Choose a large glass and fill 1/2 way with ice. Add Aperol, then Prosecco and top off with the Soda Water. Garnish with an orange.

Hint: keep orange slices or wedges in a zip lock bag in your freezer. Keeps drink cold and then you always have some on hand.

If you are heading out to a get together or don’t have everything you need to make a Spritz at home, start with San Pellegrino’s Blood Orange soda, and plenty of Soda Water. Or try these new Bravazzi Italian Sodas. Play with the mix until you get a blend that works for you.

If it’s Cocktails in the evening, I prefer the Negroni. It’s a little more grown up Italian Cocktail. Here is a simple recipe for a Negroni.

Negroni

1 oz Gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
Ice
Orange Garnish

Serve this in a Rocks Glass with less ice than the Spritz.

As with everything you can find many versions of the recipes. There are several styles of Spritz including a White Spritz. Both of these recipes are decent replicas of the drinks I enjoy when in Italy.