Shake Up the Season with Style
These popular cocktails just got an upgrade with premium Italian spirits.
The Mandarino Mule combines spicy ginger beer with an Italian orange liqueur that is reminiscent of the smell of peeling a fresh mandarin orange. The original recipe for a mule cocktail uses vodka, but the Liquori Dell’Etna Mandarino Grappa adds warmth and complexity to the drink, making it perfect for fall.
While I was testing this recipe, everyone I served it to responded with, “Oh, that’s niiiiice.” It’s unexpected and so much more interesting than just using vodka.
As for the Agricolo Hot Toddy, using a rich, sweet Italian amaro in place of whiskey gives the drink a striking depth. In the recipe below, I used Rossa Agricola “Amara Agricolo” Amaro dell’Etna for its warm and sweet profile that showcases notes of Sicilian blood orange and Mediterranean herbs.
Loamanic Wine & Spirits Inc. imports these specialty spirits from Italy. They are available to the Manitoba market exclusively at Ellement Wine + Spirits at The Forks.
Mandarino Mule
1 oz Liquori Dell’Etna Mandarino Grappa
Juice of 1/2 lime
3 oz ginger beer
Add all ingredients to a rocks glass or copper mug full of ice. Stir briefly to combine.
Agricolo Hot Toddy
1 oz Rossa Agricola “Amara Agricolo” Amaro dell’Etna
Juice of 1/4 lemon
2/3 oz honey syrup*
7 oz unflavoured black tea, such as English breakfast tea
Add all ingredients to a mug and stir to combine. Garnish with a skewered lemon wheel or lemon wedge.
*To make honey syrup, mix honey and warm water in a 2:1 ratio until dissolved. Store in the fridge for up to a week.
