Latest news with #Italicus
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Freshen Up Your Summer Cocktails With 5 Global Liqueurs
Italicus Spritz made with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto. Liqueurs tend to carry a bad rap. This is likely because some of the most mainstream liqueur labels present a saccharine profile that can easily overwhelm a cocktail just by adding one extra drop, like Amaretto or Baileys Irish Cream. Contemporary liqueurs, however, tend to offer a lighter flavor thanks to their more natural infusions of herbs and fresh fruit. Though they taste lighter, they are still classified as liqueurs by fulfilling the category's defining quality of at least 100 grams per liter of sugar and minimum alcoholic strength of 15% alcohol by volume (ABV). The current demand for low ABV drinks positions liqueurs a trendy alternative to other distilled spirits like vodka (average 40% ABV) or tequila (average 50% ABV); instead of mixing up a vodka soda, consumers can swap in a liqueur for a lower ABV and more refreshing libation. Liqueurs also add complexity to drinks, for example Grand Marnier, a blend of cognac and bitter orange-flavored liqueur that dates back to 1880, evolved to become a staple ingredient for margaritas. The orange citrus complements the lime juice of margarita's base while the cognac adds depth. Whether you prefer a classic liqueur or one of the newer styles, liqueurs are a bar cart essential; below, discover five of the best liqueurs to get started. Chinola Pineapple Liqueur Known for its signature passion fruit liqueur (when it launched in 2014, it was the world's first shelf-stable fresh fruit liqueur), Chinola recently debuted its newest flavor—Chinola Pineapple. This liqueur is handcrafted with fresh MD2 pineapples, one of the Dominican Republic's most renowned varieties for its ripeness and sweetness. The new liqueur is bottled at 21% ABV and uses neutral cane spirit to balance the profile of bold yet fresh flavor. Mix up Chinola Pineapple and soda water to see how liqueurs can make home bartending effortless (and for a quick, easy, low ABV cocktail). Bottled at 16.5% ABV, Chambord Liqueur is a black raspberry liqueur that's earned its spot on the bar for the nuances it adds to a myriad of cocktails, including two drinks that have become the brand's signature drinks: the Chambord Royale (4 parts Champagne, 1/2 part Chambord) and French Martini (2 part pineapple juice, 1.5 part vodka, 1/2 part Chambord). Crafted in Cheverny, France, Chambord extracts its base flavor from whole raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants before blending with cognac, Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey and aromatic spice for an extremely layered but poised profile. Plus, the regal, orb-shaped bottle is a whimsical addition to any bar cart. St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur Launched in 2007, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur (20% ABV) surged to its highest popularity in the last two years as the spritz craze ran rampant. The French liqueur, produced from fresh elderflowers — at least 1,000 blossoms per bottle that are handpicked once a year in the late spring — is the star ingredient in a Hugo Spritz (1.5 oz St-Germain, 2 oz Prosecco, 2 oz soda water, 8 to 10 mint leaves). This bright, bubbly beverage rocketed to fame as an alternative to the Aperol Spritz and is a beloved rendition in northern Italy. In 2016, Italian bartender Giuseppe Gallo revived the forgotten category of Rosolio, which during its 18th century heyday under the King of Savoia was renowned as 'aperitivo di corte', or the noble aperitif. He used a family recipe to create Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, a unique Italian bergamot liqueur bottled at 20% ABV. Gallo sources this citrus (likening an orange in size but coloring closer to a lime) from a UNESCO protected area in Calabria where the Indicazione Geografica Protetta I.G.P. Bergamot is monikered as 'the green gold' of the region. They recommend enjoying the citrus-floral palate in an Italicus Spritz with lots of ice (1 part Italicus, 2 parts Prosecco, 3 olives to garnish) as the Prosecco allows the botanicals to shine and the olives bring a savory note to balance the floral notes. For an even purer way to enjoy the delicate layers of Italicus, swap out the sparkling wine for soda water and you might be more apt to catch its aromas of rose and lavender. Based in Cognac, France, Grand Marnier begins with oranges handpicked at their aromatic peak (when they're still green) of which the peels are dried in the sun to preserve the flavor and essential oil of the citrus. The dried peels are then dissected for the zest to be macerated (expel the oils) over eight days; the detailed and slow distillation is what accounts for the concentrated bitter orange flavor of this liqueur. Aside from margaritas, Grand Marnier offers nuance to a variety of cocktails including a riff on Tom Collins by using the bitter orange liqueur in place of a gin base for a fresher option (1.5 oz Grand Marnier, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 1 barspoons simple syrup, 3 oz soda water).
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's National Cocktail Day! Toast with tips from "Drink Masters" judge Julie Reiner
In case you missed it, today is National Cocktail Day! There's no better time to upgrade your home bar, especially now that we're starting to gear up for warm-weather entertaining. And who better to teach us how to up our mixology game than Julie Reiner (@mixtressnyc), who spends her livelihood assessing libations and imparting her cocktail knowledge as a judge for Netflix's Drink Masters competition show? We recently sat down with the bartending veteran at an Italicus event (Julie also serves as a judge for the brand's cocktail competition, which takes place in the spring) to chat about some of the tools she recommends for making drinks at home. From her go-to glassware to a surprising pantry ingredient she uses to add flavor to cocktails, these picks will have you toasting this very festive holiday like a pro. Looking for more ways to celebrate? Here are Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's home bar favorites and entertaining (and cooking) essentials from Marcus Samuelsson. If you want to set up a bar and don't know where to begin, Reiner says you can't go wrong with a 1-to-2-ounce jigger and a really good peeler. One of the easiest ways to elevate an at-home bar is by upgrading your glassware, of which Reiner says you can usually get away with a few classic styles. "For me, cocktail-wise, it's double Old Fashioned glasses and highballs. And then a coupe for martinis." As for the ideal ice cube shape, Reiner says it depends on the drink, "but if I'm going to have an Old Fashioned or a negroni, I want to pour it over a big rock." If you have jams sitting in the back of your pantry, you could be sitting on a world of cocktail possibilities. "I always say having different jams in your refrigerator is such a great hack. Fresh raspberries, for example, go bad so quickly, but if you have raspberry jam, you can easily make a cocktail with whatever spirit, citrus and a little simple syrup and you get that bright raspberry flavor without having to have fresh fruit," Reiner explains. Looking for a unique way to show your appreciation to a host with the most? "I love to bring someone a bottled cocktail they can stick in their freezer and have when they're ready," shares Reiner. Stirred coctkails like a negroni and Rob Roy are great for this because the recipient, says Reiner, "can just pour it into a martini glass, garnish and serve." If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
