4 WINE COCKTAILS THAT ARE THRIVING NOW!
As much as we love the classic and almost "sacred" version of a good wine, those summer days and relaxed afternoons after work come along when you crave something more refreshing, more adventurous. Wine becomes the base for sensational cocktails that are a huge hit, and we are telling you their story while giving you the ideal recipes to bring the bar home!
And for you, the sworn wine lover who will ask with suspicion, "why mix a good wine?", the answer comes disarmingly to explain that when your base is high quality, the result is not sacrilege, it soars!
We have tried them all and we sign off on every single one!
French 75
A cocktail with a history that takes us back to World War I and the legendary Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. The famous bartender Harry MacElhone wanted to create a cocktail with the same intensity, power, and explosive kick as the 75mm field gun. He ended up with the French 75, a combination of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and sparkling wine. The recipe truly soared with the use of champagne, lending the aristocratic finesse and freshness that established it as one of the most elegant and timeless cocktails.
What you will need:
-
15ml fresh lemon juice
-
15ml sugar syrup
How to make it:
Put all the ingredients (EXCEPT THE CHAMPAGNE) into a shaker and shake to combine. Next, strain into a narrow glass (think flute) and top up with Blanc de Blancs Brut by G.H. Martel & Co. Its intense freshness and sharp acidity give vitality to the cocktail, while its persistent, delicate effervescence creates a light texture. The combination of green apple, citrus, and brioche aromas from the champagne blend perfectly with the corresponding notes of orange, grapefruit, bergamot, and lavender from The Mechanic Mediterranean London Dry Gin Lost Lake, fully justifying the cocktail's name!
For even bigger thrills, you can make the rosé version, the aristocratic Rose French 75, using Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose, which adds vibrant fruity notes of red berries, cherries, rose petals, and white flowers. A lemon twist is an absolute must in both versions!
Negroni Sbagliato
Sbagliato in Italian means "mistake," and this is perhaps one of the most successful ones ever made. Behind it is Mirko Stocchetto, bartender at Bar Basso in Milan. During a shift, while preparing a traditional Negroni, he accidentally grabbed a bottle of Prosecco instead of Gin. Thus, a new, airy, and light version of a legendary cocktail was born, retaining that same charming bitterness. We, of course, tweaked it a little and decided that adding Aperol gives it a completely different and even more summery character!
What you will need:
How to make it:
Use an Old Fashioned glass and add a large ice cube or sphere. First, pour in the Aperol and Veroni Vermouth, and stir well. Then, top off the glass with Torresella Prosecco Extra Dry.
Torresella Prosecco Extra Dry is the ultimate base choice with its finesse, medium acidity, and tickling bubbles. It offers a light, crisp body and a generous dose of fresh citrus, apple, pear, and floral aromas that perfectly balance the sweetness of the vermouth, giving this Sbagliato its richest and most playful flavor expression.
An orange or lemon twist adds a very special touch here too. Personally, I always add both!
Kir
Unpretentious, quick, yet exceptionally flavorful, the Kir is the king of French simplicity in cocktails. Born in Burgundy, it was named after Canon Félix Kir, mayor of Dijon after World War II and hero of the French Resistance. Kir used to serve the local Aligoté to the messengers of the era, adding a drop of blackcurrant liqueur to sweeten the wine's acidic nature. Over time, the recipe changed and changed again, landing today as one of the most old-school and refined cocktails for summer and beyond. It was unanimously decided that its most summery version is the following.
What you will need:
-
10ml Crème de Cassis
How to make it:
In a tall glass (the Kir demands a slender, almost highball glass to match its prestige, let's be honest!), add the liqueur first and then fill with the Aligoté. This is a variety that captures the essence of Volnay's terroir and is naturally distinguished by its high acidity, freshness, and crisp structure, cutting right through the intense sweetness of the liqueur like a knife. Refreshing, with aromas of green apples, orange zest, passion fruit, and buttercream, and perfectly balanced, it can easily be enjoyed from morning till late at night!
Throw a few fresh blackberries in too they'll really make it pop!
Aperol Spritz
And words are unnecessary. The moment you see it circulating around, it is officially spring, mid-summer, or you simply know how to have a good time! The "I just finished work, let's grab a drink" cocktail is easy, refreshing, and... orange, made very simply as you'll see below.
What you will need:
-
90ml Torresella Prosecco
-
60ml Aperol
-
30ml club soda
How to make it:
Fill a large wine glass with plenty of ice and add the Torresella Prosecco and Aperol. Stir gently and top up with the soda of your choice. Traditionally made with plain club soda, but since it's summer and being a bit more flamboyant is required, try the Ros Solis Pink Grapefruit Soda.
A gentle stir and enjoy!
Follow the above to make your summer afternoons just as enjoyable as when you are on vacation! Cheers!
Christina Tsogka
Botilia's Wine Specialist
