LIVING LIKE AN ITALIAN

CLASSIC ITALIAN COCKTAILS

Explore and celebrate Italy’s most famous and delicious cocktails

Classic Italian Cocktails

Italy’s rich culinary tapestry and vibrant aperitivo culture has led to the creation of cocktails with a timeless allure.

Explore and celebrate Italy’s most famous and delicious cocktails, and get inspired by the flavours, aromas, and spirit of aperitivo with our easy Italian cocktail recipes.

Famous Italian Cocktails

Handpicked by our MARTINI cocktail experts, here are our favourite classic Italian cocktail recipes. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next trip to Italy, or wanting to drink the Italian way at home, these cocktails capture the essence of aperitivo and are best enjoyed with friends, family and classic Italian dishes.

MARTINI Negroni

The MARTINI Riserva Speciale Rubino and Riserva Speciale Bitter come together perfectly to deliver the Master Blenders ultimate Negroni cocktail. A perfect balance of sweetness, bitterness and distinctive botanicals with MARTINI’s vibrant vermouth and complex bitters.

Salty and fatty dishes are the perfect pairing for a Negroni cocktail, softening the intense aromatic bitterness with every sip. The complex flavours of cured meat or the clean, cool simplicity of beef tartare or burrata pair fabulously with this bright and tasteful Negroni.

MAKE YOUR OWN

MARTINI Negroni

Ingredients
  • 30 ml MARTINI® Riserva Speciale Rubino
  • 30 ml MARTINI® Riserva Speciale Bitter
  • 30 ml BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin
  • Orange Wedge to garnish
Method
  • Fill a tumbler with ice cubes.
  • Pour the ingredients in and stir gently for dilution.
  • Add the orange wedge to garnish.
MARTINI Rosso Americano

Early legend has it that Americans loved a splash of soda in their Milano Torino, a traditional mix of vermouth and bitter in equal parts, resulting in this classic, bittersweet, long, and refreshing aperitivo drink.

If you’re looking to enjoy your Americano with a meal, the light and sparkling character of this cocktail enhances the complex aromatics of MARTINI Bitter and Rosso and pairs nicely with sharp pickled vegetables, smoky, spicy hams, and Tramezzini.

MAKE YOUR OWN

MARTINI Rosso Americano

Ingredients
  • 35 ml MARTINI Rosso
  • 35 ml MARTINI Bitter
  • 70 ml Soda
  • Orange Slice to garnish
Method
  • Add all ingredients to a tumbler with ice.
  • Stir gently.
  • Garnish and enjoy.
MARTINI Manhattan

The Manhattan cocktail is complex and warming with a delicate touch of sweetness, for those that enjoy multiple layers to their cocktail experience. Served in a classic Martini cocktail glass, this drink exudes elegance with every sip.

The bitter-sweet power of a Manhattan cocktail makes it the perfect pairing to the sweet flavours of fig, creamy goat cheeses, and crispy rucola with flatbread.

Make your own

MARTINI Manhattan

Ingredients
  • 60 ml Rye Whiskey
  • 30 ml MARTINI Riserva Speciale Rubino
  • 2.5 ml Maraschino Liquer
  • dash of Angostura Bitters
  • Marachino Cherry to garnish
Method
  • Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes.
  • Pour in the ingredients and stir for 20 seconds.
  • Strain into a Martini cocktail glass and garnish.

What are the traditional Italian pre-dinner drinks?

The concept of aperitivo is built into Italian culture and community. It’s a time where friends and family can gather to socialise and enjoy light drinks and snacks before dinner. Traditionally, these drinks are simple spritz cocktails, easy to make and refreshing to drink after a long day.

In a country where every meal is a celebration of flavour, MARTINI has been an essential companion to the Italian aperitivo since its founding in 1863. Read more about MARTINI’s Italian story.

To learn more about aperitivo cocktails and culture, check out our guide to aperitivo.