Like most Italian cocktails or aperitifs there’s a great story behind The Bicicletta, or Bicycle, cocktail.  Legend has it that The aperitif was named after the elderly men who swerved all over the road while riding home after a few afternoon drinks at the café. The story sounds about right and remind us of how Count Negroni invented the popular Italian cocktail […]

The Boulevardier Cocktail The Boulevardier Cocktail or “Italian Manhattan” is credited to Harry McElhone, the founder and proprietor of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, and dates to 1927.  The Boulevardier Cocktail has become our favorite winter time pre dinner drink and is composed of 1/3 Campari, 1/3 Italian vermouth, and 1/3 Bourbon whisky.  Like all cocktails, the better the ingredients the […]

As of late it seems the Negroni has caught fire as the cocktail / aperitif of choice amongst discerning drinkers and eaters.  Mike Colameco, who hosts a popular NYC restaurant review show on PBS, raves about having a classic Negroni before each of his meals, for example.  The appeal of the Negroni (made traditionally with Campari, red vermouth, and gin) […]

Punt e Mes is an amaro-red (sweet) vermouth hybrid made by Carpano and the name means “point and a half” in the dialect from Turin.  The legend goes that a man ordered a glass of red vermouth and half dose of bitters and Antonio Carpano’s bar.   Punt e Mes is made with a variation of herbs and spices and […]

We’ve officially fallen in love with the aperitivo ritual this summer, that is to say, enjoying a light cocktail before dinner on the weekdays and lunch on the weekend.  And while our go to aperitivo has been the Americano (and when we’d like something with a bit more alcohol content the Negroni), with any good food and drink you eventually […]

The History of the Negroni Have you ever dreamed of being an Italian Count? You know, a fancy aristocrat with an ocean-side villa, a butler, and a few exotic Maserati’s and Ferrari’s in the “stable?” I have to admit I’ve had a few of these Italophile inspired dreams, but I’m quite happy living the Italian life in the US. There […]

Summer Martinis: The St Germain Appeaser and Averna Sofisticato Now don’t take this to mean I’m a full fledged wino, but I get really excited about well prepared cocktails, good wine, and nicely crafted beer.  On the cocktail side, I’ve waxed philosophically about the benefits of aperitifs and amari such as Lillet, Antica Carpano, and Nonino and I’ve enjoyed them straight […]

If I haven’t mentioned it here on Scordo.com my father is a dyed-in-the-wool grappa fanatic.  In fact, he’s grown so found of the elixir made from sugar and grape stems he produces a limited quantity batch for his immediate family and select friends.  So, it wasn’t with great surprise when I brought over a bottle of Amaro Nonino Quintessentia on a recent weekend […]

(photo: Averna on the rocks with a slice of orange) Averna, the amaro and aperitif/digestif from, and still produced in, Sicilia, is a bona fide rock-star.   Yes, like Bono, Freddie Mercury, or Roger Waters, Averna makes you tingle all over and has you wondering how anything can be (taste) so damn good.   For those of you not in the know, […]

If I were to say “red vermouth” you’d probably conjure up images of your frugal Aunt Carmela sipping on lukewarm Martini and Rossi sweet vermouth.  While the imagery was common decades ago, vermouth has fallen out of fashion and doesn’t get the respect it deserves; moreover, it’s probably one of the most misunderstood bar beverages in the United States.  Carpano […]