An Italian Swizzle is a ice cold drink that will take you a warm summers day in Milan. This delicate orange cocktail is based on the classic swizzle it is one of the coldest most refreshing drinks you can imagine. As we live in South West Florida the swizzle is part of our frequent repertoire of summer cocktails, we have a lot of variants.
The Italian Swizzle variant uses Ramazzotti Amaro, and simple syrup to make an crisp refreshing cocktail perfect for a summer brunch.
Italian Swizzle
Aviation Gin. Ramazotti Amaro. Lemon. Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters. Simple Syrup.
What Is A Swizzle Exactly?
There is a good chance you have heard of a swizzle stick, which is a long wood or metal stick with 4-5 short prongs sticking perpendicular from one end. Classically, the drink is made be shaving ice to the consistency of snow, filling 1/2 a glass with it, adding the ingredients and spinning the swizzle stick between your palms until the drink is whipped into a frappe. This take a while, and making snow ice is not always possible, the result is pretty phenomenal though.. Modern swizzle cocktails are similar but less time consuming, opting for finely cracked ice over shaved.
My swizzles start the same way as the classic, but I prefer to make them more in the style of a julep, or Mojito, that is to say start with 1/2 a glass of highly cracked ice, make the swizzle, and fill the remaining portion glass with more ice to the brim.
The basic recipe for a swizzle is 1 1/2 ounces of a base spirit, typically flavorful rum or gin. Classically, for rum something funky like Havana Club rum or, Bols Genever or old tom. Then add a complimentary liquor, dash of bitters, and a touch of sweet syrup. This is a very old West Indian drink so in a classic swizzle sense these would be appropriate.
Delicious Swizzle Variants
The great thing about a swizzle is with such a simple base you can let your imagination run wild. As mine have evolved to match the heat of summer in the tropics, I tend to add 1/2 to a 3/4 ounce ounce of citrus juice as well. This pushes them more toward their cousin the mojito, so refreshing.
Italian Swizzle
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Loading...An Italian Swizzle is a ice cold drink that will take you a warm summers day in Milan. Perfect for a Summers Sunday brunch.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces Aviation Gin
- 1 ounce Ramazzotti Amaro
- 3/4 ounce Lemon Juice
- 2 dashes Fee Brother's Old Fashioned Bitters
- 2 tsp Simple Syrup
Instructions
Fill 1/2 a Collins glass with as finely cracked ice as possible (if you have an ice bag smash it well with a hammer).
Add all ingredients to the glass.
Using s swizzle stick between the palms of your hands spin until about 1/2 the ice is melted.
Top remaining glass with cracked ice to overflowing.
Serve with a long straw.
Notes
When serving the cocktail, take care not to touch the frosty sides, as you will leave finger marks.
Try our other refreshing swizzle variants:
Classic Swizzle | West Indies Cocktail c1830 |
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