Summer is here... or has been here for an eternity if you live in Texas like I do. And is there anything better than a light, refreshing pre-dinner cocktail in summer? Ok, maybe a beach vacation. But a cold yummy aperitivo with great snacks can be a nice substitute if there are no French Riviera or Capri plans this year... As you might have read here, I am a huge fan of this little French / Italian tradition with the Aperol Spritz being its best known drink. But after so many Aperols and these variations on repeat, it is time for something new. So without further ado, here are some authentic Italian (suggested by my amica geniale Daria, grazie 😉) pre-dinner drinks to try:
1. Cynar Spritz
You'll need some ice cubes, two parts Cynar liqueur, three parts Prosecco (a dry sparkling wine from Italy with DOC or DOCG classifications, you can find it everywhere for around $12) and one part soda (we make our own sparkling water and add that instead) and voila! A little bitter, playful and invigorating... Garnish with lemon and mint if you like. Cynar is made from artichoke and other plants and herbs. On the back of the bottle, it's also suggested to try it topped off with Coca-Cola or to put it in a Manhattan. It can also be consumed by itself after a rich meal.
2. Amaro Spritz
The Amaro Montenegro is a herbal liqueur made of 40 botanicals first produced in 1885. Like the Cynar, it's a great digestif. For the Spritz, it's the same principle as with Cynar: add ice cubes to red wine glass, pour two parts Amaro Montenegro, three (or two if you like it more bitter) parts of Prosecco and sparkling water. Garnish with an orange slice (not pictured).
3. Bellini
After trying this drink in some restaurants, I was a little disappointed. It's such an easy recipe - white peach puree and sparking wine! But I think some places are too lazy to make fruit puree from scratch and add packaged juice. That's why I was shocked to find out that this pre-made bottle by the brand Canella I found at Eataly is absolutely delicious and tastes of real, ripe peaches! (Total Wine & More carries it as well). It's a very light and sweet drink with only 5% alcohol and is supposed to be served in Champagne flutes. If you want to make it non-alcoholic, get this sparkling wine and make your own peach puree!
PS: This post contains a couple affiliate links.
PPS: Please drink responsibly and check out my alcohol free cocktail idea here!
Talk to you soon,
J.
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