Italian Spirits and Cocktails

Learn how the finest indigenous raw materials are transformed by traditional artisans into exceptional Italian Spirits. Discover how to infuse your craft cocktail or Italian after dinner drink with these timeless traditional elixirs.

The premise of organization is to introduce and educate the American trade to the craftsmanship and authenticity of Italian liquor, Italian liquers (liqueurs), Italian fortified wine, and Italian cordials.

Put Italian Spirits into your Life!

With bartenders being the gatekeepers of this knowledge, our goal is to showcase the variety of Italian Spirits to the consumers and instill in them a newfound appreciation for the unique characteristics, notes and ingredients of each product.

Get ready for a journey of discovery, one bottle at the time. Salute!

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Art, Ingredients, and Alchemy

Learn how the finest indigenous raw materials are transformed by Italian artisans into exceptional Spirits and Amari. Discover how to infuse your craft cocktails with these timeless traditional elixirs.

Welcome to the exciting world of artisanal Italian spirits and liqueurs. Inspired by the common goal to promote the culture of premium Italian spirits, Italy’s most historic and popular distilleries have joined forces to promote “The Spirit of Italy” Group.

It’s a new way of involving people, taking them on an exciting trip to explore the generations of experience garnered by master distillers and liqueur makers.

Italian Spirits

The Spirits of Italy are links between culture, tradition, Italian lifestyle, and a splash of art, pleasure and enjoyment that is the Italian way. Here on this website we will discuss the rapidly changing trends in mixology and entertainment.

Importantly, we will strive to introduce to the U.S. libations industry, as well as the general public, the many wonderful brands of Italian spirits. Specifically:

Italian Liquor

The highest alcohol by volume products are the Italian liquors or spirits. In addition to being yeast-based fermentation of alcohol, they also go through a second step called “distillation” that further fortifies them.

For example, grappa, which is a fragrant and potent, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35 to 60 percent alcohol by volume.

Grappa is excellent served on its own in small glasses of about one to two ounces as an after-dinner drink (digestivo). It is sometimes mixed with a steaming shot of espresso to create caffé corretto or “corrected coffee.

It is not uncommon in Italy to pour a few drops of the powerful liquor into your cup of finished espresso, swirl it around to rinse, and drink.

Italian Liqueur

Italian liqueurs are alcoholic drinks composed of distilled spirits and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served before or after a meal, they are typically sweetened and un-aged beyond a resting period during production, when necessary, for their flavors to mingle.

Italian Fortified Wine

An Italian fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, is added. Many different styles of fortified wine have been developed, including Port, Sherry, Madeira, Marsala, Commandaria wine, and the aromatized wine vermouth.

Historically, there have been two main types of vermouth: sweet and dry. Responding to demand and competition, vermouth manufacturers have created additional styles, including extra-dry white, sweet white (bianco), red (rosso), and rosé.

Digestive and Aperitivi

Aperitivo: The word aperitivo (Latin for “opener”) defines the ritual of drinking before a meal or it can refer to any pre-dinner beverage such as Vermouth, wine, a cocktail, or beer. To “open” the appetite, as it were.

The purpose of the Italian Aperitivo is to gather with family and friends, the loved ones with whom you are going to share a meal, and stimulate the appetite with a bitter-sweet light alcoholic drink.

Aperitivo liqueurs can be divided into two broad styles: “Aperitivo liqueur” and “Bitter liqueur.” Both are generically defined as red-hued, wine-based or spirit-based products infused with citrus, herbs, spices, and roots, then mixed with sweeteners to offset their intensity.

In general, the Aperitivo liqueur style is more soft, approachable, and lower in alcohol. The Bitter liqueur-style contains about double the alcohol and is often more bitter.

Digestivo: The word Digestivo (Italian for “Digest aid”) defines the ritual of drinking after a meal or it can refer to any after-dinner beverage such as Grappa, Amaro, dessert wine, liqueur, or a cocktail.

Italians drink digestivos to linger with the meal experience and prolong the company of family and friends.

The word digestivo (Italian for “Digestion aid”) defines the ritual of drinking after a meal or it can refer to any after-dinner beverage such as Grappa, Amaro, dessert wine, liqueur, or a cocktail. Italians drink digestivi to linger with the meal experience and prolong the company of family and friends.

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