Have you thought about what cocktails you want to serve at your wedding? Perhaps you would like to create a signature cocktail or two named after you and the love of your life. Whatever adult beverages you choose to celebrate your nuptials with – they should be nothing but the best. Our suggestion: incorporate Italian spirits for an extra special twist!

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA), a governmental agency entrusted with the promotion of Italian food, wine, and other alcoholic beverages in the USA, wants to educate consumers on the variety of lovely Italian Spirits through the Italian Spirits Promotion Project. The ITA is working with an array of unique spirits including Amaro (an herbal, bittersweet spirit) Grappa, (Italy’s national spirit) Limoncello, Vermouth and other small niche categories that add an exotic touch to traditional cocktail recipes. In the spirit of celebrating Italian Spirits (see what I did there), the ITA shared a few of their fan-favorite recipes with us, and I tried them out at home. Let me tell you, these puppies are mind-blowingly good. 

Italian Gold Rush

1 oz. Pallini Limoncello
1 1⁄2 oz Rye whiskey
1⁄2 oz Honey syrup
1⁄2 oz. Fresh lemon juice

Shake and strain over a fresh rock

For Whom The Sun Rises – a twist on the Hemingway Daiquiri by Neal Bodenheimer  

1.5 oz (45 ml) Amaro Sibilla  
0.75 oz (22 ml) grapefruit juice  
0.25 oz (7.50 ml) lime juice  
0.25 oz (7.50 ml) Maraska Maraschino (cherry brandy) 
0.25 oz (7.50 ml) simple syrup
5 drops salt solution (3 parts kosher salt to 1 part water)
Grapefruit peel (placed in the shaker)

Method: combine all ingredients in a shaker tin and shake hard 15 times to aerate 
Garnish: double-strain into a chilled coupe

Nocino Mule

40 ml Nocino Il Mallo
20 ml yellow grapefruit juice
100 ml ginger beer

Make directly into the glass
Glass: highball with ice
Garnish: raspberry, mint leaf and dehydrated lime

For more top-notch recipes including Italian Spirits, download the ITA Recipe Booklet here.

About the Italian Trade Agency
Since 1926, the Italian Trade Commission, with 79 offices worldwide, has been the Italian government agency entrusted with the mission of promoting trade between Italian companies and foreign markets. The Food and Wine department, based in New York City, works on increasing the awareness of the Italian products in the U.S. by being the point of reference for trade and press and promoting Wine & Spirits through educational events, informational materials, special events and promotions. For all the activities regarding these alcoholic beverages, see http://italianspirits.us/