Looking for some delicious Italian cocktails to unwind with after a day of exploring? We’ve got a list ready for you to pick your favorites!
Italian cuisine wouldn’t be complete without a drink! From the iconic espresso coffee to the finest wines, and yes, let’s not forget about cocktails.
Italian cocktails and aperitivo go hand in hand! A delightful drink paired with a light snack before dinner sets the mood and tickles one’s appetite.
You’ll find a wide array of delightful and timeless Italian cocktails to savor, whether you fancy something sweet, bitter, bubbly, or refreshing.
Italian cocktails have gained quite the popularity lately, offering a fantastic blend of flavors for a truly refreshing and bittersweet experience that many people enjoy. Cheers to exploring the world of Italian cocktails!
ALSO READ:
- Best Italian Liqueurs
- What is Grappa? – All You Need To Know About This Classic Italian Liquor
- Best Italian Red Wines
- Best Italian White Wines
- Best Affordable Italian Wines: A Guide to the Best Value Bottles
14 Best Italian Cocktails
All right, buckle up and let’s go grab the best Italian cocktails to drink today!
1. Americano
When it comes to the best Italian cocktail, the Americano is a must-not-forget choice.
This Italian cocktail is considered the flagship of Campari, which is a red bitter aperitif. It was a favorite among American tourists and became famous as the Americano.
Making an Americano cocktail is pretty simple and quick. The key ingredients are Campari and sweet vermouth, both in equal parts. It is then poured into an old-fashioned glass with ice, topped off with club soda, and garnished with a slice of lemon or orange.
First introduced in the 1860s at a Milanese bar by Gaspare Campari, the Americano is the oldest known Italian cocktail. It boasts a dark red color and a bitter, herbal taste. It was named after the American tourists who enjoyed drinking it in Italy.
If you want to enhance your dining experience, consider starting with a glass of the Americano as it makes for the perfect appetizer — a delightful blend of bitter and sweet flavors.
2. Negroni
Classics never go out of style! If you’re a fan of cocktails, you’ve got to give the Negroni a try. It’s one of the absolute best Italian drinks around.
Negroni’s history may be a bit cloudy, but the version dating back to 1919 in Florence, Italy, is quite popular.
It is said that a French general asked a bartender named Fosco Scarselli to mix the Americano cocktail with something stronger. Scarselli replaced club soda with a mixture of Campari, red vermouth, and gin, adding a slice of orange instead of lemon.
Negroni could have been named after Count Camillo Negroni, General Pascal Negroni de Cardi, or Noel Negroni. Some claim it was invented by Count Negroni in Florence, who desired a more robust version of the Americano cocktail. One thing is certain, though: nothing beats a Negroni!
This bittersweet, reddish cocktail – perfect with ice and incredibly inviting – will surely cool you down on a hot summer night or warm you up on a chilly winter morning.
3. Negroni Sbagliato
Absolutely nothing is wrong with this fantastic Italian cocktail, the Negroni sbagliato, except for one little mix-up in the Negroni recipe.
The history of Negroni sbagliato is clearer than that of its original, the Negroni.
It dates back to 1970 at Bar Basso in Milan when Mirko Stochetto mistakenly used a bottle of prosecco instead of gin. This made Negroni sbagliato a mixture of sweet vermouth, Campari, and prosecco.
This three-ingredient sparkling cocktail brings sweeter and more refreshing flavors compared to the original.
So, ordering a Negroni sbagliato one night when you’re out will not be a mistake because it is one of the best Italian cocktails you’ll taste.
4. Milano-Torino
A legendary drink made by Gaspare Campari in 1860, the origin of the Negroni and the Americano, is the best two-ingredient Italian cocktail drink: Milano-Torino.
Its name was derived from the places of origin of the two ingredients, with Campari from Milan and sweet vermouth from Turin.
A stirred mixture of Campari and sweet vermouth in a glass filled with ice will bring you the perfect balance of bitter and sweet in the Milano-Torino cocktail.
As they say, nothing beats the pure original!
5. Aperol Spritz
Here’s another popular Italian cocktail that you’ll find everywhere – the Aperol spritz. While it officially came to be in the 1950s, the idea of a spritz has been around since the 1800s. After years of experimenting, the delightful Aperol spritz was born in the northeastern part of Italy.
Aperol spritz is a delightful mix of prosecco, Aperol, and soda water. It’s a sunny drink that boasts a vibrant orange color and a refreshing, slightly bitter, and citrusy flavor. It’s just the thing to sip on a scorching summer day or as a pre-meal aperitif.
If you want to go for a more bitter-tasting cocktail, then Aperol spritz is the best Italian cocktail drink you can get.
Aperol spritz is easy to make. Just fill your glass with ice, Aperol, dry prosecco, club soda, and garnish it with a slice of orange. The result is a golden, orange, bitter but bubbly and refreshing Aperol spritz.
If you’re looking for a low-calorie cocktail to unwind after a stressful day at work, why not start with a refreshing glass of vibrant Aperol spritz?
6. Bellini
If you want a pure fruit juice with a twist, pick the sparkling and fruity Italian cocktail, Bellini. You’d surely love this awesome pinkish, sweet, and fruity cocktail drink for brunch.
History says that in 1948, Giuseppe Cipriani of Harry’s Bar in Venice was inspired by the famous artist Giovanni Bellini’s painting of a saint in a toga of distinct pink color, thus naming the cocktail “Bellini” itself.
But what actually makes a Bellini? This delicious cocktail is a mixture of white peach purée, prosecco, and a slice of peach for garnishing.
Fill your champagne flute glass with chilled Bellini for the best peachy experience!
7. Garibaldi
If you want a delightful orange drink with a hint of bitterness, go for the Garibaldi, the best Italian cocktail choice.
Where the south unites with the north, that’s what the Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi did in the 19th century. He whisked Sicilian-grown oranges over to Lombardy, where they teamed up with the famous Campari, and – voilà! – the Garibaldi cocktail was born.
This delightful drink wears a charming sunset-orange shade and dances with a perfect harmony of bittersweet and tangy flavors.
The Garibaldi cocktail has gained such popularity that there’s even a fun, frothy version of it. The trick is to whip up that cold fruit juice at lightning speed!
And if one highball glass of Garibaldi isn’t enough, why not go for two?
8. Hugo
Just as relaxing as its place of origin, the Dolomites in South Tyrol, the refreshing floral and minty Hugo cocktail is considered one of the finest Italian drinks as well.
Roland Gruber, the awesome bartender from South Tyrol, who, in 2005, poured a mixture of elderflower syrup, prosecco, and a splash of soda water into a wine glass filled with ice. He garnished it with mint and lime, giving birth to the famous aperitif – the Hugo cocktail.
Hugo may be younger than other renowned Italian cocktails, but this light and delightful drink has firmly established itself as one of Italy’s best, proving that when it comes to beverages, age doesn’t matter; taste does!
9. Rossini
This iconic Italian cocktail was named after the famous Italian opera composer Gioachino Rossini.
The Rossini cocktail was invented in Venice in the mid-20th century by Giuseppe Cipriani, who decided to mix Prosecco Brut with whipped strawberry pulp in a flute glass.
So, this candy-like sweet cocktail is actually a spin-off of the classic Bellini cocktail, which is made with prosecco and white peach pulp. You might think you’re just sipping your favorite strawberry juice with this vibrant cocktail. A real strawberry slice is also added for garnish.
Rossini is a great choice as an aperitif, especially for those who enjoy low-alcohol cocktails. Its fruity notes add a sweet and delightful flavor.
Pairing your Rossini with your favorite chocolate dessert is a fun choice. The fruity-sour flavor perfectly matches the sweetness of the dessert. Enjoy!
10. Angelo Azzuro
From shades of red to orange and pink emerges a surprise – blue. Enter the best Italian cocktail drink, an angel in blue known as Angelo Azzuro.
According to history, the Angelo Azzuro – the “blue angel” – was born in 1980 in Rome thanks to Giovanni Pepè’s creativity. This potent yet sweet cocktail is a shaken blend of gin, triple sec, and Blue Curacao, elegantly presented in a martini or coupe glass.
Rest assured, you won’t feel blue after indulging in Angelo Azzuro!
11. The Godfather
The mysterious yet famous Italian cocktail, known as the Godfather, takes the spotlight. Some say its name might have been inspired by the famous movie of the same title, but who knows? What is no mystery, however, are this cocktail’s ingredients.
The Godfather is not only robust but also a daring blend of Scotch whisky and amaretto. It’s mixed in a metal shaker, stirred until cold, and then poured into a glass with ice cubes. This concoction boasts a dark amber hue and a nutty, smoky flavor that packs a punch.
So, be cautious when it hits you. You wouldn’t want to wake up on the floor the next morning!
12. Italian Paloma
For an energetic night, let’s introduce the Italian Paloma. This is a modern twist on the Mexican Paloma cocktail, using Campari instead of grapefruit soda.
Italian Paloma is made with tequila, Campari, grapefruit juice, lime juice, lemon juice, orange soda, salt, and simple syrup. With its vibrant pink color and a tart, bittersweet, and salty flavor, it’s a low-calorie and refreshing drink that packs a punch.
This tequila-based drink is accentuated by a blend of bitter Campari and citrus juices, including grapefruit, orange, lemon, and lime. Add some chilled Italian orange soda and a pinch of salt, and you’ve got a beautiful Italian Paloma on the way.
The bittersweet, tangy, and citrusy taste of the Italian Paloma will undoubtedly recharge your energy. It’s perfect for parties, whether it’s a birthday celebration, a pool party, or a garden event.
13. Sgroppino
Sgroppino is a delightful Italian drink known for its refreshing and creamy goodness. It’s made by blending lemon sorbet, vodka, and prosecco until it becomes foamy and velvety.
In its basic form, you’ll savor the zesty mix of lemon sorbet or lemon gelato, vodka, and prosecco, served elegantly in a flute glass as a dessert or palate cleanser between courses.
Originally from Venice, it used to feature white wine instead of prosecco. You can get creative with sgroppino by trying different sorbet flavors like raspberry or peach.
Sgroppino’s roots go way back to the 16th century when it was a favorite among aristocrats, enjoyed to refresh the palate between meals.
The name “sgroppino” comes from the Italian verb “sgroviliare,” which means “to unwind” or “to loosen.” It’s a perfect drink for summer nights or festive occasions.
14. Cardinale
And finally, here’s a personal favorite!
Cardinale is a dry and sophisticated Italian cocktail crafted with gin, dry vermouth, and Campari. It boasts a pale red hue and delivers a herbal, bitter flavor profile. Comparable to the Negroni, it leans towards a drier, crisper taste.
This cocktail was concocted by bartender Giovanni Raimondo at the Excelsior Hotel in Rome, Italy, in 1950, potentially for a cardinal (“cardinale“) with a preference for dry cocktails. The drink comes with a lovely touch – a long, fragrant orange peel with cloves.
The cardinale is a bit different from its cousin, the Negroni. Rather than featuring the sweet vermouth’s fruity tones, it warmly welcomes the herbal richness of dry vermouth.
Think of this cocktail as a welcoming neighbor, perfectly positioned between the Negroni and Martini, inviting you on a delightful flavor adventure!