Thanks for stopping by! We have a list of 19 of our best Italian Cocktails to inspire your next dinner party or get-together with your friends!
Italy is well-known worldwide for its classic cuisines such as pasta and pizza, tourist destinations such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and romantic cities like Venice and Milan.
But today, we will guide you through this little journey to Italy and give you the classic taste of their famous cocktails you will surely love in every drop.
Most of them are so effortless to do that you can make one at home!
We have listed 19 famous Italian cocktails that will surely make you say delizioso!
These cocktails will not only interest you by their distinct taste but also the history that comes with them.
The perfect fuse of their classic drinks offers every drink an incredible twist you don’t want to miss.
Classic Negroni, Americano Cocktail, Puccini Cocktail, and Godfather are just some of the cocktails we will explore on this trip.
But cocktail #11 is unique because of an icy cold ingredient you don’t usually find in a cocktail.
While #19 is a must-try because it’s not a cold cocktail; it’s hot!
Are you ready to take a ride with us and explore the cocktail goodness of Italy?
So fasten your seatbelt and buckle up!
If you are fond of bitter-sweet cocktails, this one is a great drink to take in!
It has equal parts of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari mixed to create a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness in one.
It was named after Pascal Olivier Count de Negroni, a French general who ordered the Americano Cocktail in a bar in Florence, Italy, back in the 1920s.
He wanted to spice up the americano cocktail taste, so he asked to add gin to it, to give a little kick, and Negroni was invented.
It’s a classic cocktail first served in Milan around 1860 and was a favorite drink by American tourists and expatriates, thus acquiring its name.
This bitter, sweet, chilled cocktail is a perfect treat on a warm day.
Trivia: This was the first drink served to James Bond in the movie “Casino Royale” and has been featured in Bond movies afterward.
This refreshing cocktail made from peach puree and prosecco is excellent on a hot summer day!
It was created in Venice, Italy, in 1948 and was named after the Italian painter Giovanni Bellini because of its warm color, similar to the painter’s preferred color palette.
It is a perfect drink for brunch in summer when peaches are in season, but you can have it any time of the year by using frozen peaches instead.
This classic cocktail is named after a famous revolutionary general who helped liberate and unify Italy because this cocktail is widespread throughout Italy.
What makes Garibaldi unique is the way freshly squeezed oranges are prepared.
Once squeezed and strained, blend it at high speed with no ice to make it fluffy.
Add Campari, sugar syrup, and ice cube, and stir!
No wonder it’s one of the cocktail drinks served in the best bars in the world!
The taste of this cocktail will take you to the Southern part of Italy.
It’s also called Limoncello spritz that gives a light and fabulous taste you can’t resist.
Make sure to use just the normal limoncello (not the creamy version) to make the taste terrific.
Served with crushed ice half full, then pour limoncello and prosecco.
You may also splash sparkling water as desired.
6. Godfather
A satisfying drink you can experiment with using two-ingredient mixtures.
The almond taste of amaretto helps soften the stronger flavor brought out by whiskey and gives a unique kick to its taste.
Since it’s a two-ingredient cocktail, this is an easy peasy cocktail you can do on your own and make versions of it depending on your preferred taste.
This cocktail is best only for Aperol, a bright orange aperitif (appetite stimulant served before a meal).
Combining Aperol, prosecco, and club soda, garnished with orange slices, makes this cocktail drink inviting in every sip!
If you want it less bitter, add less Aperol and more prosecco to it, but if you’re used to Aperol’s bitterness, you can add more and less prosecco.
A lovely tequila-based cocktail you can do yourself on any occasion!
Its citrusy flavor mixed with Campari makes this drink tasty with every drop.
With its stunning pink color, no one can say no to it!
This pretty cocktail is named after an Italian Composer for its bubbly musical composition.
It’s similar to Bellini, except it uses strawberries instead of peaches to create its reddish color.
You need a bottle of light, bubbly prosecco, partnered with fresh or sweetened strawberry and a dash of vodka or strawberry liqueur to get the party started!
10. Puccini Cocktail
This two-ingredient Venetian cocktail is made of freshly squeezed Mandarin or 100% mandarin juice and prosecco.
Named after Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, this vintage cocktail is ideal for brunch or parties because it’s not complicated to prepare.
And since this is an easy-to-do cocktail, you can make large batches of this on your get-together without hassle.
Sgroppino, or “untie” in English translation, is an ideal after-meal cocktail on a hot summer night.
It’s a unique cocktail as it has lemon sorbet to give that tartness to the drink.
Combined with chilled prosecco and vodka, you already have that cocktail drink excellent for summer.
Tip: Better use an excellent middle-shelf vodka for enhanced flavor.
Campari and sweet vermouth are two famous Italian drinks combined to create this ruby-like cocktail named after the origin of each wine, Milan (Campari) and Torino (Vermouth).
The best part is that you can modify this drink to create other classic cocktails.
If you like to switch to Americano, add soda, but if you want it a little stiffer, add gin, and you can make yourself a Negroni.
Amazing, isn’t it?
13. Angelo Azurro
This sophisticated drink is stunning and unique because of its color: blue!
Angelo Azzurro, or blue angel in English, has the blue color from one of its components, Blue Curacao.
The mixture of the citrus flavors in the triple sec and blue curacao, added with the botanical notes in the gin, make this sophisticated and sexy cocktail.
It’s not just beautiful by the look; it also tastes like heaven!
You will never be wrong with this drink!
It’s because this cocktail is a mistaken (sbagliato in Italian) version of Negroni.
It was said that it was accidentally born when a rushed bartender put prosecco in Negroni instead of gin.
But it’s a beautiful disaster as prosecco balances the sweetness, bitterness, and fizzy taste of Negroni.
You can garnish this drink with sliced orange to make it look fabulous!
This sparkling cocktail will give you a summer vibe even in winter!
It’s a blend of mint, elderflower, lime, sparkling water, and prosecco that will tickle your tongue with its refreshing taste.
Don’t forget to add ice!
16. Pirlo Cocktail
This cocktail uses white wine instead of prosecco, which gives a sweet taste to this simple yet pleasant drink.
It is sometimes regarded as an Italian spritz, but they are different.
Spritz uses prosecco while Pirlo uses still wine to combine with other components.
And because it’s a delicious cocktail, it was awarded the 2017’s drink of the year in New York.
You will enjoy this not-too-strong or sweet Bicicletta Cocktail drink on a sunny day!
To create this, you’ll need Campari, white wine, and club soda.
It’s an excellent before-meal drink for brunch.
18. Italian Spritz
This is an excellent antidote when it’s warm and humid outside.
It is a prosecco-based cocktail and is known for its fruity and herbal flavors with the touch of some bitterness when Aperol is added.
It is another classic cocktail that originated in Venice, and for sure, once you’ve come to taste it, you’ll get instantly hooked to it!
19. Bombardino
This cocktail is best served in winter.
Originated in Genova, Italy, it literally means “bomb” as it explodes warmth on a winter day when milk, whiskey, and zabaglione (egg-based custard) are combined and brought to a boiling point!
Best when topped with whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon!
The bottom line
Traveling to places is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will take with you as you go on.
With that in mind, we want to make sure we have taken down notes for you to be reminded of the best things you have tasted in these places.
And as we end this little journey in Italy, we hope we have given you the best cocktail ideas you can do in the comforts of your home.
Which one do you think you will try as an aperitif?
Do you want to make your version of each cocktail we have on the list?
Let us know your favorite Italian cocktail drink in the comments below!
Top 19 BEST Italian Cocktails 🍸
We have listed 19 easy Italian cocktails that will surely make you say delizioso!
Ingredients
- Classic Negroni
- Americano Cocktail
- Bellini Cocktail
- Garibaldi Cocktail
- Limoncello Cocktail
- Godfather
- Classic Aperol Spritz
- Italian Paloma Cocktail
- Strawberry Prosecco Rossini Cocktail
- Puccini Cocktail
- Sgroppino Cocktail
- Milano-Torino (Mi-to) Cocktail
- Angelo Azurro
- Negroni Sbagliato
- Hugo Spritz Cocktail
- Pirlo Cocktail
- Bicicletta Cocktail
- Italian Spritz
- Bombardino
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Italian Cocktails list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start mixing and make us proud!