Usually, Italy is known for its history, landmarks, fashion, Italian foods, and culture. However, Italy is home to some of the world’s favorite alcoholic drinks and beverages.
Italy suits classic drinks and cocktails in the early fifties, along with its deep sense of fashion and design. Italian bartenders and notable drinkers left their legacy in the world.
Moreover, there is no better way to indulge in exquisite cuisine than to eat your food with an equally fantastic beverage.
This led to the innovation of alcoholic Italian drinks and drinks. This article will discuss some of these drinks and beverages;
Table of Contents
- 1. Americano
- 2. Negroni
- 3. Bellini
- 4. Rossini
- 5. Aperitivo
- 6. Campari
- 7. Aperol Spritz
- 8. Angelo Azzuro
- 9. GodFather
- 10. Bombardino
- 11. Cardinale
- 12. Barolo
- 13. Brunello di Montalcino
- 14. Amaretto
- 15. Limoncello
- 16. Sambuca
- 17. Fernet
- 18. Vin Brule
- 19. Lambrusco
- 20. Chianti wine
1. Americano
Americano is popularly known as the father of Negroni. Besides, it shares the same ingredients as the Negroni except for gin.
Americano was formerly called Milano-Torino by the producers because of the use of Campari and vermouth. It was originated from Milan and Turin.
In memory of the boxer Primo Carnera’s victory in New York in the 1930s, Milano-Torino name was changed to americano.
Additionally, a fun fact, James Bond ordered americano in Ian Fleming’s novel, Casino Royale. Furthermore, in the making of americano, 5/10 Vermouth Rosso, 5/10 Bitter Campari, and soda water are required.
The drink is poured and stirred directly in an ice-filled glass, top up with the soda water along with a slice of orange.
2. Negroni
Negroni is one of the most famous alcoholic Italian drinks and beverages. It got its name from Count Camillo Negroni, a traveler who lived in Florence during the 1920s.
There are different variations on how Negroni came about. One of these is that Camillo went to his usual bar in London and asked for a regular drink served a little bit differently.
He made use of a slice of orange instead of the typical piece of lemon. In addition, the Negroni family started a distillery that makes a readily mixed version of Negroni called Antico Negroni.
Furthermore, in making Negroni 1/3 Vermouth Rosso, 1/3 Dry Gin, 1/3 Bitter Campari are served in a medium tumbler/old-fashioned glass on the rocks.
Like an americano, the ingredients are stirred directly into the glass with half a slice of orange and lemon peel.
3. Bellini
Bellini is named after the 15th-century artist Giovanni Bellini.
Bellini was created in 1948 in Venice when Guiseppe Cipriani, the owner of Harry’s Bar, launched an exhibition in Giovanni’s memory.
The drink was for the occasion and soon gained recognition in the world. In addition, the signature pink look of the glass was inspired by a pink vest on a monk in one of Giovanni’s paintings.
Furthermore, in preparing 3/10, Nettare di Pesca (peach juice) and 7/10 Spumante Brut were used. The drink is built directly in a champagne flute, with the peach juice poured in first.
4. Rossini
Rossini is an alcoholic Italian drink that can be drunk at any time of the day. Bellini’s variation uses 3/10 Nettare di fragole (strawberry juice) and 7/10 Spumante Brut for its preparation.
Other variations include a mimosa made with orange and brut. Puccini made with mandarin and brut, and lastly, il Tiziano, strawberry grapes, and Brut.
5. Aperitivo
Aperitivo is also called a martini cocktail. It is served before dinner as it helps prepare the digestive system. Most Italian see this drink as a tradition before eating their dinner.
It enables the digestive system better than overly sweetened cocktails. Some of the variations are perfect martini, vodka martini, Gibson, sweet martini, dirty martini, smoky martini, and Martinez.
However, the original recipe of this drink is 8/10 Gin and 2/10 Vermouth dry, stirred, and served in a chilled cocktail glass along with a green olive and lemon peel.
6. Campari
Campari is one of the most famous alcoholic Italian drinks and beverages in the world.
Gaspare Campari created the drink from a mixture of herbs, spices, fruits, and alcohol in a small local bar in the province of Novara during the 1800s.
Besides Campari’s bitter taste, people would still come to Gaspare’s bar in Milan asking for a drink. Additionally, Campari is known to boost digestion when served with citrus juice or soda.
7. Aperol Spritz
Aperol spritz is also called Veneziano or Spritz.
It is one of the famous alcoholic Italian drinks and beverages in the world. The Austrians living in Venice during the 1800s created this drink.
However, over the years, bitter herbs were added to give it more kick. Barbieri Brothers invented their Spritz in the 1920s, and they said oranges, rhubarb, and gentians, which resulted in the neon orange Aperol Spritz known today.
Furthermore, in preparation of Spritz, 2/10 Aperol, Seltzer (carbonated water), and 8/10 Prosecco are used. It is served in a tumbler or a red wine glass with ice, then add the Aperol, prosecco, and top with soda water and a slice of orange.
8. Angelo Azzuro
Angelo Azzurro is an alcoholic Italian beverage taken after dinner. It is made with 6/10 Gin, 1/10 Blue Curacao, and 3/10 Triple Seco Cointreau.
Additionally, in preparation of this drink, the ingredients are poured into a shaker, shake well, and serve in an ice-filled cocktail cup.
There is no need for an orange or lemon slice.
9. GodFather
Godfather is an alcoholic Italian beverage taken after dinner. Godfather is made with 3/10 Amaretto di Saronno, and 7/10 Scotch whisky poured in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass and stirred well.
The US has a variation of God Father called a God Mother, made with 7/10 Vodka instead of scotch Whisky.
10. Bombardino
Bombardino originated in Northern Lombardia and gained popularity in various parts of the world. The drink was named after a group of skiers in the Italian Alps who came from a blizzard.
They tasted the warn drink and shouted, “what a bomb.” Furthermore, the glass is made with warm eggnog topped with whipped cream, brandy, sprinkled with cinnamon.
11. Cardinale
Cardinale is one of the alcoholic Italian drinks and beverages served before dinner. It is made with 5/10 Gin, 3/10 Vermouth dry, 2/10 Bitter Campari, stir and served in an old-fashioned ice-filled glass.
12. Barolo
Barolo is a red wine produced in Piedmont. Grapes used in Barolo are only grown in the hillsides of Barolo, a community in Italy that the wine was named after.
Moreover, Barolo wine is a rich, fruity red wine aged for a minimum of three years. Additionally, Barolo goes well with truffles, red meat, and cheese.
13. Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is produced in the town of Montalcino in Tuscany. It is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and has the highest DOGC classification in Italy.
Brunello di Montalcino is bold and full-bodied, while younger Brunello di Montalcino has a little more tart, earthy and fruity notes.
Older ones are sweeter, smoother, and more leathery taste. Additionally, a Brunello di Montalcino with a “Normale” classification has been aged for five years, while a “Riserva” classification has been aged for six years.
14. Amaretto
Amaretto originated in Saronno in North Italy. The name is derived from the Italian word for bitter (amaro) due to its slightly bitter taste.
Disaronno made this drink famous in the sixties, even though the alcohol is older and both the Disaronno and Lazaronni family claimed to be founders of the glass.
However, there is a more romantic story to how the Amaretto came about. The report says Bernardino Luini, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s students, painted a widowed innkeeper in 1525.
And she gifted him a brandy steeped in Apricot kernels in gratitude, and that was how Amaretto was born. Furthermore, Amaretto is made with apricot kernels, sometimes with peach pips.
15. Limoncello
Limoncello originated in the Amalfi Coast, on the island of Capri.
It resulted from a little old grandmother wanting to make something grand from the exquisite lemons in her garden. Limoncello has 20% or 30% alcohol content.
The sweetness of the Sorrentino lemons dilutes the strength of the alcohol. The lemons are soaked in alcohol for about a week, then sugar syrup is added.
After which, it is left to sit for another month. Limoncello sweetness or acidity are adjusted with the alcohol’s lemon peels’ duration.
Limoncello is taken after dinner and also helps with digestion.
16. Sambuca
Luigi Manzi created Sambuca in 1851 in Civitavecchia, the West coast of Italy. It is taken after dinner and also helps with digestion.
There is a various story to how the drink was named “Sambuca,” one report states that it was named after the Ischia’s watermen who went to the fields with water and anise to quench the thirst peasant.
In contrast, another story states the name comes from the Italian word for elderberry, although elderberry is not one of the ingredients used to make the drink.
However, the glass has 38-42% alcohol, with three coffee beans floating on top of the drink. The coffee beans are chewed while drinking.
17. Fernet
Fernet is one of the famous alcoholic Italian drinks and beverages. It was made in Milan in 1845 and became famous when Fratelli Branca promoted it.
Twenty-seven herbs and other ingredients are known as their “trade secret,” were used to make fernet. Also, it is well known for its medicinal properties.
Although it is an Italian drink, it is one of the most significant drinks in Argentinian culture today.
18. Vin Brule
Vin Brule originates from Faenza, where there is the tradition of “Nott del Biso” every January. Locals drink tasty hot wine during the festival while they burn a giant puppet in the city center.
Vin Brule is incredibly drunk during celebrations. Furthermore, it is made with one bottle of Sangiovese red wine, 200g sugar, one orange zest, one cinnamon stick, 4-5 cloves, and one lemon zest.
It is prepared by pouring the wine into a pot, then add the other ingredients to it. Stir well on low heat and cook for a few minutes.
19. Lambrusco
Lambrusco is an effervescent red wine produced in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Lambrusco grapes are used in making this wine.
This wine comes in various styles, range from very dry to sweet. Although Lambrusco grape is not naturally sweet, the duration of time used to ferment the grape or adding sweet grapes helps to adjust the sweetness level of the wine.
The wine is fermented in another pressurized, Charmat-styled tank to get its effervescent quality.
20. Chianti wine
Chianti wine is one of the most famous Italian wines in the world. It is a dry red wine produced in Tuscany. Chianti used to come in a squat bottle in a straw basket and were called fiasco bottles.
Chianti was made primarily with Sangiovese grape, at least 70% Sangiovese grape. It comes mainly in standard wine bottles.
When you visit Italy, go to an Italian restaurant, or have conversations about alcoholic Italian drinks and beverages, make sure you try these drinks and insert them in your discussion.
