Classic Italian cocktails
An exceptional cocktail list straight from Italy
We celebrate Italy in a flutter of tricolour flags, where red, white and green fill the sky to honour the beauty of the country. It is well known: Italy’s finest creations echo around the globe, from fashion to dining, design to technical crafts, encapsulated in the simple yet proud badge of Made in Italy, driven by the skill and quality behind genuine Italian savoir-faire.
As the home of good food and fine drinking, the Italian peninsula delights palates with a rich tradition where the art of mixology has helped shape international cocktail history. Spirits and botanical aromas capture regional landscapes, from cosmopolitan cities to coastlines and mountain peaks. Join us on a journey across regions to discover Italy in a glass, with a toast to sip slowly and savour!
Aperol Spritz – Veneto
From a staple of the aperitivo ritual in Veneto to the top 10 most-ordered cocktails in the world, Aperol Spritz has come a long way. Its origins lie in the 19th-century custom of Austro-German soldiers stationed in the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, who would ‘spritz’ Venetian wines with sparkling water or seltzer to dilute them. This base was later enriched with Aperol, the aperitif created in Padua in 1919 by brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri. Thus was born Aperol Spritz as we know it today, with its vivid orange hue, traditionally paired with classic Venetian cicchetti, small bites made with local produce to enjoy in traditional bàcari. It takes just a few ingredients to make a picture-perfect cocktail, built straight into a wine glass with ice according to the famous 3-2-1 ratio, recognised by the IBA as the official recipe: 3 parts Prosecco D.O.C., 2 parts Aperol, 1 part soda and a slice of orange to garnish… cheers!
Bellini – Veneto
In the enchanting setting of Venice, where canals weave between calli, bridges and historic palazzi, the famous Harry’s Bar dell’Hotel Cipriani gave birth to the Bellini. Founder Giuseppe Cipriani drew inspiration from the pink hues in paintings by Venetian master Giovanni Bellini. The result was a delicate drink where velvety fruit meets sparkling fizz in a balance of sweetness and freshness. It mirrors the elegance of the city, served in a wine glass bringing together 10 cl of Prosecco and 5 cl of white peach puree.
Americano – Lombardia
A legend of Italian mixology, the Americano has its roots in Lombardy. Often linked to the Milan-Turin drink – created by Gaspare Campari around 1860 – through its use of Milan’s Bitter Campari, this cocktail has a multi-layered character, blending Milanese tradition with a cosmopolitan appeal that won over drinkers abroad, making it a true classic of international fine drinking. Built directly in the glass, the authentic recipe for a proper Americano calls for 3 cl of Vermouth Rosso and 3 cl of Bitter Campari, ice and a splash of soda, gently stirred, finished with a lemon twist and a slice of orange for garnish.
Negroni Sbagliato – Lombardia
A cocktail with a storied past born in Milan, where history, tradition and creativity meet. Around 1969, inside Bar Basso, a true landmark of Milanese bar culture, owner Mirko Stocchetto was preparing a Negroni for a customer seated for aperitivo. Grabbing the wrong bottle by mistake, Mirko poured sparkling wine instead of gin. The error became an instant success, earning the new Negroni “sbagliato” (‘mistaken’) a legendary status. Built in a glass over ice, combine ⅓ Bitter Campari, ⅓ Vermouth Rosso and ⅓ dry spumante, finished with an orange slice.
Hugo – Trentino Alto Adige
Among the soaring peaks and lush meadows of Trentino Alto Adige, aperitivo hour welcomes a refreshing drink created in the province of Bolzano by bartender Roland Gruber. Light in alcohol, it captures the crisp feel of mountain air. It is quick and simple, built directly in the glass without a shaker: mix 15 cl of Prosecco, 2 tablespoons of lemon balm or elderflower syrup, ice cubes, a splash of seltz, fresh mint leaves and lime slices. A revitalising sip reminiscent of the fresh Alpine breeze.
Tandem – Emilia Romagna
We continue our journey across the peninsula to Emilia Romagna, stretching from the Apennine hills down to the golden sands of the Adriatic coast. It is here that the Tandem was born: a light, vibrant drink that pairs aromatic bitterness with bright citrus notes, perfect for an aperitivo on the beach or after a busy workday. You only need 5 cl of Biancosarti, 10 cl of Crodino and an orange slice for a refreshing pause.
Negroni – Toscana
Where the Arno flows past historic palazzi reflecting the sunset, between 1919 and 1925 bartender Luigi Scarselli created the world-famous Negroni: the Florentine drink ordered by Count Camillo Negroni on via Tornabuoni, who asked to strengthen his usual Americano with gin. Its amber-orange hue echoes the Americano, but with an invigorating kick that has conquered cocktail bars across the world. Take 3 cl of Gin, 3 cl of Bitter Campari, 3 cl of sweet Vermouth Rosso and half an orange slice: the classic formula to transport you straight to Florence.
Sicilian Coke – Sicilia
From mainland Italy to Sicily, sunshine stretches from the slopes of Mount Etna to the Mediterranean Sea, framed by salt pans, cliffs and ancient tonnare. The island’s cocktail culture channels the scents of the Mediterranean, blending citrus notes of lemon, orange and citron with traditional Sicilian amari. Among them, the Sicilian Coke cocktail blends 6 cl of Averna with a top-up of Limonata Amara (Bitter Lemon), finished with lemon zest and a sprig of rosemary. An authentic taste of Sicily, best enjoyed with a sea breeze.
