“You may have the universe if I may have Italy.”
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Giuseppe Verdi
The Definitive Guide
Italian Aperitivo Drinks
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How to make the
perfect Negroni
Ingredients
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml Sweet Vermouth
- 25ml Gin
- Slice of Orange, to garnish
As an apéritif, the Negroni is best enjoyed prior to a meal, stimulating one’s appetite with its vivifying bitterness. We recommend consuming one’s Negroni al fresco, prior to a sumptuous serving of pici al cinghiale, for instantaneous transportation to the ornate, artful streets of Florence.
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml Sweet Vermouth
- 25ml Gin
- Slice of Orange, to garnish
As an apéritif, the Negroni is best enjoyed prior to a meal, stimulating one’s appetite with its vivifying bitterness. We recommend consuming one’s Negroni al fresco, prior to a sumptuous serving of pici al cinghiale, for instantaneous transportation to the ornate, artful streets of Florence.
Italian Cocktail FAQs
What are the most popular Italian cocktails?
Unsurprisingly, three of Italy’s most popular cocktails are aperitivo: many Italians will order a Negroni, Aperol spritz or Campari soda without even looking at a bar menu. When it comes to after-dinner drinks, Italians often reach for a Sgroppino – a palate-cleansing combination of lemon sorbet, vodka and Prosecco – or the ever-popular (though not strictly Italian) Espresso Martini.
Guide to Italian Aperitivo DrinksWhich cocktails work well as dinner party aperitifs?
Italian aperitif drinks are traditionally based around a bittersweet flavour profile (dolce amaro in Italian). This is because bittersweet drinks compliment salty snacks, whether in the form of olives, crisps or a more substantial antipasti platter. The trio of Negroni, Aperol spritz and Campari soda are classic choices, but you could also serve something sweeter – like a bellini or Hugo spritz.
Our Guide to Italian AntipastiCan cocktails be paired with pasta dishes?
In Italy, pasta dishes are typically paired with wine, with the flavours of the sauce matched to a suitable grape. The same principle applies when pairing cocktails and pasta. Creamy, cheesy pasta sauces call for a sharp, crisp cocktail like a Negroni, while tomato sauces suit vermouth-based cocktails like a Milano-Torino. With seafood pasta, a citrusy gin spritz is ideal.
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