This May 26th marks the first World Aperitivo Day and for a category that dates back over 2000 years, we think it’s been a long time coming and we’ll be celebrating with an aperitivo or two ourselves.

If you’ve been following along on our journey, you know we love a little aperitivo. Coming from the Latin term “to open,” an aperitivo is a pre-dinner drink and drinking ritual native to Italy. Aperitivos are a lighter alcoholic drink with a low-abv traditionally enjoyed with light bites or snacks such as olives or arancini during the early evening between work and dinner. While the concept has long been a part of European culture, drinks like the Negroni and the spritz have further introduced the US and the rest of the world to this beloved Italian ritual. With an aperitivo festival set to launch in 2023, it looks like it’s here to stay.

Here are a few super simple cocktails concocted by industry professionals for you all to try out at home with some iconic Italian ingredients.

ITALICUS Spritz:

Created by ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto

• 1 part ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto
• 2 parts Prosecco (or Champagne)
• Garnish: Three olives

1. Method: Serve in a tumbler glass with cubed ice and garnish with olives

Italicus was created by the authority on Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo, to bring back the forgotten Rosolio category. With keynotes of Calabrian bergamot, Italicus is made using the finest Italian ingredients to create a sip of Italy. The striking bottle design embodies the history and heritage of Italy’s distinctive regions, whilst telling the story of Rosolio’s time-honored traditional drinking occasion of Aperitivo. Italicus is one of the world’s most awarded aperitivo globally. Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto was awarded Best New Spirit 2017 at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, and Top Trending Liquor Brand by Drinks International in 2020 and 2019.

Select Spritz

Created by Select Aperitivo 

• 2 oz Select Aperitivo
• 3 oz Chilled Prosecco
• 1 oz Soda Water
• Garnish: Castelvetrano olive or green olives

1. Method: Starting with the prosecco, pour over ice and stir gently. Garnish with a large Castelvetrano Olive; or other green olive.

Select Aperitivo is the classic Venetian aperitivo and was created in 1920 in the Castello district at Pilla Distilleries, a place renowned for the art of liquor making. During the postwar period, the young Pilla Brothers contributed to the rebirth of the city and when the popularity of the aperitivo began to spread, the Spritz soon became a favorite, establishing Select Aperitivo as the star of the Venetian cocktail scene. A precise selection of 30 botanicals undergo a complex process to achieve the distinctive, well-balanced bittersweet taste of Select Aperitivo. With its sophisticated aromatic profile, Select Aperitivo is the essential ingredient for making the Original Venetian Spritz which is always garnished with a green olive.

Monte & Tonic

Created by Amaro Montenegro 

• 2 oz Amaro Montenegro
• 4 oz Tonic
• Garnish: Orange slice

1. Method: Pour ingredients over ice in a tumbler, stir gently and garnish with an orange slice.

With a secret recipe remaining unchanged since its creation 136 years ago, Amaro Montenegro is an Italian bitter herbal liqueur first concocted in 1885 out of Bologna, Italy.  Amaro Montenegro features the essence of 40 botanicals from around the globe – all collected during the travels of explorer and herbalist Stanislao Cobianchi.  Traditionally served as a digestif, Amaro Montenegro has since become a favorite among world class bartenders for its versatility in crafting modern cocktails and adding a flavorful twist to classic drinks. What distinguishes Amaro Montenegro from other herbaceous liqueurs is its beautifully balanced bitter-sweet flavor and complex taste.