It’s the closest thing to an Italian spritz on Lake Como… but you can’t travel to Italy. Make one at home. Italian cocktails… are delicious year-round. Summer is when temperatures rise and humidity sets in. A Bellini, spritz or limoncello Italian cocktail is the perfect refreshing drink.
You can cool off with a summer cocktail next time you go to lunch, aperitivo hours, or dinner. Impress your friends (or yourself!) with one of these traditional–yet super-simple–recipes.
Each Italian drink comes from a different region. This includes the Veneto (that’s the Bellini), down to the South (where you can find plenty of Limoncello) – so if you plan a summer party with a few friends, make sure you have all of them for an easy “tour of Italy”.
These are our five favorite Italian summer drinks, along with their recipes! (Which one is your favorite? Please comment! ).
Bellini
The Bellini is a very popular, but simple cocktail from Venice.
Our “cocktail tour” begins in Veneto, northern Italy. This region is home to the famous Bellini drink. This simple, yet delicious cocktail was invented by Harry’s Bar in Venice in 1948. cocktail. It was soon a hit with celebrities while vacationing in Venice, before moving to New York where it joined its many fans.
There are many ways to spice up a glass of fruity juice. The Bellini is a classic cocktail, and because of its simplicity, freshness, and elegance, it’s the perfect summer drink.
Ingredients
- two parts Prosecco
- One part puree of fresh white peach
Method
- Enjoy a flute of champagne
- Serve the Prosecco with the purée
- Serve! Serve!
Aperol Spritz
Aperol Spritz is one of the most popular Italian cocktails in summer.
The red-tinted cocktail is also from Venice. But don’t be surprised if locals are seen sipping their Spritzes at home in Florence or Capri. This is a testament to the popularity of the beloved cocktail and how easy it is to enjoy, no matter where you are in Italy or the rest of the world.
The most well-known Spritz? The Aperol Spitz. Aperol is similar in taste to Campari. Because of its slightly bitter kick, Aperol can be paired with soda water, orange, and Prosecco to complete the Spritz recipe.
Ingredients
- Three parts Prosecco
- Two parts Aperol
- One part soda water
- Orange slice
Method
- Add Aperol to a glass of white wine, lowball or highball with ice.
- Mix the Prosecco with soda water
- Garnish the dish with a slice orange
Negroni Sbagliato
Summer version of the popular Negroni cocktail. Geoff Peters.
Campari is one the most well-known Italian liquor companies. Its wide range of cocktails will please all palates. The Negroni Sbagliato is a great summer drink thanks to Spumante sparkling wine. “Sbagliato”, which means “wrong,” refers to the fact that the original Negroni cocktail’s Gin is replaced with Spumante in this recipe. It makes it perfect for summer!
It is believed that the Negroni originated in Florence. However, the Negroni Sbagliato was invented in Milan (where Campari is from) in the 1960s.
Ingredients
- One part Campari
- one part Martini Rosso
- one part Spumante
- Orange slice
Method
- Mix all ingredients in a highball/lowball glass. Add ice to mix.
- Garnish the dish with a slice orange
Caffe Shakerato
Caffe Shakerato, a refreshing beverage. Photo taken by Takeaway (WikiCommons).
The Caffe Shakerato, one of the newest rising stars in Italian cocktails, is actually a virgin. The English word shake is the origin of “Shakerato”, which is a key component in the drink-making process.
Caffe Shakerato is a coffee-based energy booster that boosts your energy and cools you down with the cool frothiness. You will find Italians eager to indulge in them on the hot afternoons.
We are confident that iced coffee is now even better.
Ingredients
- One shot of fresh espresso
- 2-3 Tablespoons sugar (optional).
- Ice cubes
Method
- Mix all ingredients in a shaker. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds
- It can be poured into a martin or white wine glass without ice.
- You can garnish as you like: orange peel, coffee bean, or sugared rim (optional).
Limoncello
A tall! A shot of Limoncello, an Italian favorite drink. Photo by Tiana Kai
Limoncello’s tart flavor is a wonderful way to finish a meal along the Amalfi Coast, or to transport you back to that area. Capri is the origin of this lemon liqueur, which is Italy’s second-most popular liqueur. Because of the large size and thick peel, traditional limoncello is made only from lemons from Capri or Sorrento. Limoncello is most popular between May and September for locals. (Header More about Limoncello and its History ).
This digestive tastes best when it is extremely cold. It should be fermented for at least 80 days. You didn’t plan it that far ahead? You don’t have to worry, four days is plenty.
Ingredients
- The zest of 10 organic lemons
- 1 (750ml), bottle of vodka/pure grain alcohol
- 3 1/2 cups of water
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
Method
- Use a vegetable peeler to remove the lemon peel and cut off the white.
- Place the peels in a 2-quart pitcher. They will be able to swim in the vodka.
- Keep the pitcher covered at room temperature for at least 4 days
- Let the sugar dissolve in water on medium heat for five minutes.
- Mix the sugar syrup with the vodka and peel.
- Overnight, seal and cover at room temperature
- Strain the limoncello using a strainer. Discard the peels
- Seal the bottles by transferring the limoncello into them.
- Keep it cold for at least 4 hours, and up to 80-days
