An Escape to Italy
With Our Favourite
Summer Cocktails

Summertime, and the living is easy. In this week's Journal, we take you to the magical Italian island of Sardinia. A mere hour by plane from Rome, it is nonetheless far, far from the madding crowd. No wonder Sara Mostofi and Jay Vosoghi, our Italian glassware partners from R+D.LAB, are drawn to this Italian island in the sun.

It's a delight to our senses to be in a location that inspires us so effortlessly. And it is an experience that we wanted to share with you, too. So, this week, let's go for strolls and take in just a bit of this magical island together.

One of our favorite places for escape in Sardinia is the town of San Pantaleo. Long popular with artists and writers, we are drawn to the beauty and natural splendor of the area. There are weekly open-air markets on Thursdays and festivals throughout the summer.

Gathering ingredients for our summer cocktails

SUMMER IN ITALY:
Classic Summer Cocktails in Italian Glassware

Perhaps a quick pit stop for a refreshing summer cocktail might be in order. Sbagliatos for everyone? Sbagliatos? What are they?

The Sbagliato was born at the Bar Basso in Milan and is now one of the most popular summer cocktails in Italy. In 1972 Bartender Mirko Stocchetto mistakenly added sparkling wine to a Negroni instead of gin. This humble mistake led to the Sbagliato, which translates as “mistaken” or “bungled”.

This drink is ideal for those who want to enjoy a few bubbles with the classic sharp Negroni taste they know and love. In fact, you will often see it referred to as a Negroni Sbagliato.

NEGRONI SBAGLIATO COCKTAIL RECIPE

1 part Campari
1 part Red Vermouth
1 part Sparkling Wine

Mix ingredients together. Serve on the rocks in a R+D.LAB Luisa Acqua glass or straight up in Luisa Calise stemmed glassware. You’ll be surprised at how much this glassware will enhance the flavour of your summer drink. Garnish with a twist of orange.

The Italian Spritz (Original Spritz) is another refreshing summer cocktail. The Italians are good at this – which you will know if you have ever been fortunate enough to spend a summer in Italy. The origins of the Italian or Venetian Spritz dates back to the 1800s, during the Hapsburg rule in Italy. Soldiers in Venice, unaccustomed to the alcohol content of some Italian wines, asked the bartenders to dilute it with water (“spritzen”, in German).

Aperol is the essential ingredient for making the Original Spritz. According to Venetian tradition, the recipe was garnished with a large green olive to create the perfect blend of balance and flavor. It is still served this way today. We choose this refreshing summer cocktail to celebrate sun filled weekends whenever we can.

ITALIAN SPRITZ RECIPE

3 parts Prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 splash soda water

Mix ingredients. Serve it on the rocks in a Luisa Bevanda glass. Garnish with a slice of lemon and mint. You may substitute Campari for Aperol (unless you are a purist).

Our next cocktail is regarded by many as the perfect aperitif to accompany a balmy sundown. In fact, the Mediterranean G&T has to be the perfect summer cocktail. What do you think? A contender?

MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER COCKTAIL RECIPE

1 part Solo Wild Gin - Pure Sardinia gin
1 part Limoncello
3 parts Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic

Combine ingredients and serve it on the rocks in a R+D.LAB Velasca Acqua glass. The tonic is particularly important to get right. Mediterranean tonic is essential to this refreshing drink with its delicate floral flavour and sweet herbaceous taste. We are big fans of the Fever Tree tonic brand for their commitment to sustainability and dedication to ethical, slow production.

Garnish with a sprig of Rosemary and, if desired, lemon and mint. For the full Mediterranean experience, you need to let the rosemary tickle your nose as you sip your drink.