One of the great traditions in the world of drinks, Aperitivo Hour is finally making its way to North America! Part of the cocktail culture of Italy, Aperitivo hour dates as far back to the late 1700s. An Aperitivo is a pre-meal drink specifically meant to whet your appetite but has evolved over the years, sometimes into entire evenings spent sipping and snacking!
In recent years, we’ve seen the popularity of the Spritz cocktail skyrocket in Canada, and we are most definitely here for it. Although Aperol is, of course, the most famous of the Aperitivo liqueurs, there are plenty of other great options out there! If you’re looking to spruce up your spritz and try something new, here are five of our favourite Aperitivo alternatives to try out this summer.
Bizarro Aperitivo – Riverland, Australia
Australia might not be the first country you think of when talking Aperitivo. But this new release from natural wine makers The Delinquente Wine Co. is an outstanding option! Located in the hot, dry region of Riverland Australia, the arid conditions allow Delinquente to work with grape varieties that typically find their home in the south of Italy. This small batch Aperitivo brings together everything great about a classic Italian Aperitivo and Australia’s booming natural wine industry!
Bizarro is made by lacing citrus fruits and organically grown botanicals with skin fermented white wine, which is then fortified. With a touch of sweetness, it balances the bitterness of the botanicals. Meanwhile, the use of skin fermented wine amps up the aromatics! The folks at Delinquente recommend making a Bizarro Spritz using the following recipe:
- 2 ounces of Bizarro Aperitivo
- 3 ounces of your favourite Pét-Nat
- A splash of soda
- A sprig of thyme
Cocchi Americano Aperitivo – Asti, Italy
A true classic, Cocchi Americano was created in 1891 by Gulio Cocchi. Since it has been produced, it’s become a key ingredient in several classic cocktails. Cocchi Americano has a white wine base that has been infused with a collection of botanicals, including artemisia, cinchona, bitter, orange peel, and elderflower. While delicately bitter, this Aperitivo is true to its vinous character and is fresher and more delicate than some of its compatriots in the Aperitivo category.
While cocktails like the White Negroni and many others showcase how tasty Cocchi Americano is, there are plenty of other non-traditional ways to enjoy it. Aperitivo with ice and soda is considered the “American” way to enjoy this Italian tradition, and the Cocchi Americano references this! Our favourite easy way to enjoy this is:
- Over ice with a splash of soda
- Garnished with spritz from an orange peel
Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo – Torino, Italy
Having spent their careers making vermouths and Aperitivi, veterans Denis Muni and Beppe Ronco have developed the innovative recipes for the very modern Hotel Starlino products. In the rosé, they wanted to create a fresh and natural flavour that could be mixed (with tonic, soda, or sparkling wine) or enjoyed on the rocks.
Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo uses the Trebbiano grape for its wine base. It also uses a wide range of botanicals, including wormwood, savoury, elderflower, coriander, clove, thyme, and sweet orange peel. After the botanicals are extracted and infused into the base wine, it’s aged for six months in stainless steel tanks before bottling. Equal parts juicy and refreshing, this delicious Aperitivo screams summer. Flavourful enough to sip alone, it also makes for a great afternoon cocktail.
If you’re thinking of trying something new this weekend, we suggest trying the Starlino Tonic!
- Combine 1 part Hotel Starlino Rosé Aperitivo with 3 parts Fever Tree Tonic Water
- Add a few cubes of ice
- Garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit
Les Spiritueux Iberville Amermelade Aperitivo – Quebec, Canada
Located in Montreal, Quebec, Les Spiritueux Iberville was founded in 2017 by Mario D’Amico, who is also the master distiller. Paying homage to his grandfather who immigrated to Quebec in 1953, D’Amico crafts Italian-inspired spirits from local Quebecois ingredients and flavours unique to La Belle Province. This project is a true ode to both D’Amico’s Italian immigrant heritage and the bounty of Quebec.
Amermelade, a play on marmalade, is chock full of juicy orange, bergamot, and grapefruit flavours. A touch of ginger and seabuckthorn adds dimension, character, and flavour. Whether you call it apéro, Aperitivo, or happy hour, be sure to carve out some time for indulging in Amermelade Aperitivo this spring!
This delicious Aperitivo was made for a spritz. Les Spiritueux Iberville recommends:
- 2 ounces of Amermelade Aperitivo over ice
- Add Italian bubbles, like Prosecco, to top up the glass (recommended)
- Garnish with a classic green olive
Meletti 1870 Bitter Aperitivo – Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Founded in 1870, Meletti has generally been known for their anise-based liqueurs. More recently, they’ve dabbled in bitter liqueurs that have quickly gained a loyal fanbase. Up until recently, the recipe for the 1870 bitter was lost until it was recovered by the family and used as the base for this liqueur. Using a combination of sweet and bitter orange, the 1870 bitter also has a complex blend of herbs which are fortified to 25% ABV to create this gently bitter Aperitivo. The 1870 bitter has flavours of clove, grapefruit, bitter orange, and ginger.
We love this Aperitivo as an alternative to Campari. A touch more bitter than the other Aperitivi on this list, it makes an extremely complex, rose-hued Negroni.
- Pour equal parts sweet vermouth, gin, and Meletti 1870 Bitter Aperitivo and stir over ice
- For a lower alcohol version, swap gin for soda to make an Americano cocktail
When you’re looking to make classic cocktails or unique combinations of your own, Fifth & Vermouth has everything you need! Add some class to your cocktail hour with our quality barware, glassware, and more. Have any questions or looking for some tips? Talk to us today!