How to make traditional Italian cocktails

The Aperol Spritz is the quintessential Italian cocktail. This incredibly popular summer drink traces its roots back to the Northern Italy city of Padua.  In 1919, 2 brothers, Luigi and Silvio Barbieri, created a new and wonderful aperitif. This exciting drink had a unique orange colour with herbal flavours and a refreshing bitterness. That drink was Aperol, and it was an instant hit. Fast-forward to the 1950s and with the inspiration of German ‘spritzers’, the Aperol Spritz was invented by adding Italian prosecco and soda to Aperol. And the rest is history… 

Looking like a sunset in-a-glass, with a playful fizziness and a delightful bittersweet flavour, the iconic Aperol Spritz is possibly the ultimate summer Italian cocktail.    

How to make a Prezzo Aperol Spritz 

Fill a large wine glass with ice 

Add 75ml of Prosecco 

Add 50ml Aperol 

Add 25ml soda water 

Gently stir ingredients together 

Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy! 

Not a traditional Italian cocktail, but we couldn’t help but share our love for the Old Fashioned. Before the development of advanced bartending techniques, cocktails included few ingredients and little preparation, and with every bar having a slightly different take on how to make this classic cocktail, the origin is unclear.  

The traditional liquor used in an Old Fashioned is whiskey, giving a smoky flavour balanced with sweet sugar and bitters. If sweet cocktails aren’t your thing then an Old Fashioned might just be for you. 

At Prezzo, we’ve taken the spirit of the Old Fashioned and given it our own twist by adding Amaretto and hazelnut syrup. The added sweetness of the makes this the perfect sipping cocktail. 

How to make a Prezzo Old Fashioned  

Add 50ml Bourbon, 10ml Amaretto, 5ml Hazelnut syrup and 2 dash Angostura bitters to a  glass 

Fill the glass with cubed ice 

Stir ingredients together for 10 seconds 

Top with additional cubed ice 

Garnish with an orange slice  

The Bellini is Italy’s answer to the French Mimosa and perfect any time of the day, but particularly with brunch. This Italian cocktail may have a simple recipe, but its legendary history marks it as one of the most well-known drinks around.  

It was first poured in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, the celebrated barman and founder of the illustrious Henry’s Bar in Venice. Henry’s Bar was often frequented by the rich and famous, including Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote and Humphrey Bogart, who likely tasted this incredible drink themselves! The original recipe called for prosecco to be gently stirred with fresh peach pureé and is rumoured to be named after the 15th century artist Giovani Bellini.   

How to make a Prezzo Bellini 

Add 25ml peach pureé to a flute glass. 

Top up with 100ml prosecco 

Stir gently & enjoy! 

At Prezzo we are always adding new Italian cocktails to our menu. We’re also continually experimenting and looking for ways to improve the classics with our own special twist. Why not join us as let our incredible bar team create something truly magical and transport your taste buds to Italy?