Fine Italian Alcohol Drinks

Italy is famous for its iconic cuisine and celebrated wines and alcohol. An integral part of Italy’s wining and dining lifestyle is its aperitivo (aperitif) culture, and wonderful array of digestivi (digestive drinks). The word aperitif is from aperire, or “to open.” An aperitivo is usually enjoyed with savory nibbles and bites, such as cheese, salumi, focaccia, or olives.

Typical Italian alcohol drinks includes liqueurs, liquors, fortified wines, vermouths, grappas and dessert wines. These drinks are consumed either as aperitifs, or as digestivi - rarely as both. Others are used in cooking or paired with specific dishes.

Compared to drinks from other countries around the world, most of the famous Italian pre-dinner cocktails and aperitifs are relatively bitter. There’s science behind that – bitter drinks challenge the liver, moderate hunger, and optimise digestion. This results in efficient management of blood sugar levels and fat storage.

On the other hand, sweet drinks and cocktails tend to spike and drop appetite, while decreasing metabolic efficiency, causing the body to store fat.

Therefore, Italian dining traditions take the time to cultivate and preserve good health and human relationships combined with their love of Italian alcohol. If you observe Italians supping together, they love to linger at the table, during and after a meal. Dessert is enjoyed at a leisurely pace and is often served in three parts. First, the sweet is offered, and it is normally accompanied by a liqueur or dessert. The coffee or espresso follows, and finally a digestive, like amaro or grappo.

The intention behind a long-drawn dining experience is to keep conversation going. In Italy, food and wine is about love, friendship, and camaraderie. The food courses are also leisurely served to build anticipation for the next course, and to allow the digestive system to make room for more food.

Italian Alcohol Spritzes And Cocktails

We love the after-dessert digestivo tradition in Italy. Here’s an introduction to the world of aperitivo and digestivi, with a focus on spritzes and cocktails.

The Italian Spritz

Spritz is the name given to Italian cocktails that have been made with Prosecco, Italian sparkling wine. There are several types of Italian drinks created with Prosecco, and some are more popular than others. While there are other spritz varieties and Aperol drinks, the Aperol Spritz is perhaps one of the most famous. It has been trending with young professionals in Australia as their favourite Italian alcohol for a while now and is beautiful to drink and look at.

However, in our opinion, Cappelletti Rosso is far superior to Aperol, thanks to its dryer quality, which is more refreshing on the palate.

Spritz Recipe:

 Prepare in a wide wine glass or double rocks glass filled with ice
 30ml Cappelletti Rosso
 60ml Cava bubbles
 Top with a splash of soda
 Garnish with an orange wheel

Famous Italian Alcohol Cocktails

Bellini

Bellini is a glamorous tall-glass cocktail which was invented in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, an Italian man from Venice. Giuseppe was the bar tender at Harrys Bar when he made this refreshing drink. Today, it is made of prosecco or white sparkling wine and pureed peach. Bellini purists prefer to avoid champagne.

Negroni

Traditionally, a Negroni is made with equal parts red vermouth, gin, and a bitter liquor, typically Campari. Negroni is refined and deliciously balanced. Try submitting Campari with other Italian red bitters, like Cappelletti Rosso.

Americano

Another Campari-based cocktail is the Americano. This Italian drink includes red vermouth and Campari, with a splash of soda water or sparkling water. Italian Americano does not contain gin.

Negroni Sbagliato

A Negroni Sbagliato is pretty much a blend of a Negroni with a Spritz. It is make by mixing red vermouth, Campari, and Prosecco (in lieu of gin).

Martini

The drink associated with James Bond 007. Shaken, not stirred. Unlike 007’s machismo drink which has either gin or vodka, a martini in Italy is usually a sparkling wine mixed with vermouth (not gin or vodka). The Italian Martini originated in Italy, thanks to Martini & Rossi, an Italian liquor brand that
got its start in Turin.

The origin of 007’s Martini is the stuff of legends. It could have been created by Jerry Thomas in 1887 at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco. Alternatively, it could have been invented in 1910 by an Italian bartender from Arma di Taggia (in Liguria), at the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York. Bond drinks a Martini that contains gin or vodka, vermouth dry and an olive.

Here Are Some Italian Alcohol Cocktail Recipes For You To Try:

Bellini Cocktail

 50ml of freshly squeezed peaches (preferably) or high-quality peach nectar
 100ml of prosecco
 A few drops of raspberry syrup (for colour)

Haus Negroni

 30ml Aperitivo Cappelletti Americano Rosso
 30ml Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
 30ml Wolfrest Gin
 Garnish with orange peel

l'Americano

 Build in rocks glass filled with ice
 30ml Aperitivo Cappelletti Americano Rosso
 30ml Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
 45ml Capi Soda Water
 Garnish with orange peel or wedge

We Love Italian Alcohol

It’s pretty obvious that we love Italian alcohol, especially those from alpine Italy. Our suppliers are Australia’s best, hands on importers.

We have searched far and wide to find the very best, so all you have to do is enjoy!