Celebrating the rich Italian tradition of aperitivo, Del Professore Bitter and Aperitivo capture the essence of Italy in the roaring 1950s to perfection.
If you’re mixing tall, cold drinks to fend off the weather, and are doing so at home to fend off the global pandemic, we suggest classic Italian cocktails might best quench your thirst. You’d have to live in a hole in the ground to not notice that more and more punters are headed to the bar with low alcohol drinks in mind. If COVID-19 has done anything, it’s made us a little more aware of our own health and well being, from what we’re eating and how we’re using our time, to what we’re pouring (or having poured) into a glass.
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The Italians know a thing or two about living right, and the evening tradition of aperitivo, a lighter, more social take on happy hour, is case in point. Friends and family come together to celebrate the end of another day in a tradition that reaches back to Roman times. In fact, the word aperitivo is derived from the Latin aperire, meaning to open, and that’s exactly what this nightly occasion does – it helps with the transition from workday to evening meal, opening up the palate in the process.
Typically the drinks served during aperitivo are lighter, palate-cleansing, low ABV libations laced with locally-sourced herbs and fruit, and while there are many traditional Italian cocktails still enjoyed in the homeland, international exports include the Spritz Veneziano, the Negroni, the Americano, and the Garibaldi, many of which have been popularised abroad by big liquor brands like Aperol and Campari.
If you’d like to make aperitivo a part of your evening transition – and we think you should – then you might want to go with ingredients that are as authentic as they are timeless, and that’s where Del Professore comes in. Named for 19th century cocktail icon “Professor” Jerry Thomas, Del Professor began life as a classic vermouth before expanding its range to include three vermouths, a traditional ‘bitter’ (not to be confused with bitters), and an aperitivo. The last two, crafted in Piedmont with ingredients sourced from the hills surrounding the distillery, lend themselves to an array of classic Italian concoctions and offer an authentic alternative to the mass-produced brands.
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Del Professore Aperitivo captures the magic of the Mediterranean in summer, with mandarin, lemon, gentian, and other traditional spice, many of which are native to Italy. Naturally coloured and bottled at a mild 15%ABV, with an intense aroma of bitter herbs, sage, and fresh citrus, Del Professore Aperitivo lends itself perfectly to classics like The Garibaldi, a light and refreshing drink named for a famed military leader.
Alternatively, try Del Professore Aperitivo in an Americano, with sweet vermouth and a soda top, or in a Negroni, a drink created by Count Camillo Negroni who liked his Americanos with gin replacing the soda water.
For something a little different, Del Professore Bitter, 25%ABV, is packed with fresh bitter orange peel from Calabria, sweet rhubarb from the Lanzo Valley, and herbs that have a concentrated intensity thanks to the long hot days and cold nights of Piedmont. Made by infusing a base spirit with traditional ingredients, including wild gentian and bergamot, Del Professore Bitter boasts a ruby red colour, and a pleasant yet complex profile of casacarilla, juniper, citrus, and pepper, making it a natural alternative to Aperol, which can be overly sweet.
Try this timeless libation in a traditional Spritz Veneziano, with orange and soda over plenty of ice in the biggest glass you can find. Alternatively, try it in a Ten Spot, with gin, Del Professore Bitter, grapefruit juice, and a squirt of lime. It also makes for a great base for sangria and punches if you’re looking to celebrate once those pesky social distancing restrictions are a thing of the past.
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For Your Preparation Pleasure:
Spritz Veneziano
- 60ml Prosecco (or sparkling wine)
- 60ml Del Professore Bitter
- A splash of soda water
- Ice
- Half an orange wheel
Build all the ingredients in a large glass with plenty of ice, and garnish with the orange wheel.
The Garibaldi
- 45ml Del Professore Aperitivo
- 120ml orange juice
- Half a blood orange wheel
Build all the ingredients in a large glass with plenty of ice, and garnish with the blood orange wheel.
Negroni
- 25ml Gin
- 25ml Sweet vermouth
- 25ml Del Profressore Bitter
- Half an orange wheel
Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a rocks glass. Add one large dry cube of ice and garnish with orange.
Ten Spot
- 45ml Gin
- 15ml Del Profressore Bitter
- 15ml Grapefruit juice
- 15ml Lime juice
Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a flute. Garnish with lemon peel.
Americano
- 45ml Del Professore Aperitivo
- 45ml Sweet Vermouth
- Soda water
Combine all ingredients in a highball filled with ice, leaving the soda water to last. Garnish with fresh lemon peel.
For more Wines & Spirits inspiration click here.
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