Cocktail of the Week: The Hoxton Hotel’s ‘Cugino Spritz’
In cosmopolitan Rome, The Hoxton’s new Italian outpost has put a peachy spin on the classic Venetian spritz...
Words: Phoebe Hunt
Peaches; they’re a seriously underrated summer fruit. Sweet, floral and delicate, they make the perfect ingredient for warm weather cocktails. But, while we all may love a classic Bellini —a taste of the romance and glamour of Venice from days gone by — we’ve never seen the soft fruit used in a spritz.
Until now. Because, luckily, at Hoxton Hotel, they do things a little differently. And, to celebrate the launch of the new Cugino Bar at the newly opened Hoxton in Rome, the innovative hotel brand has decided to meddle with the classic Italian spritz.
Head Bartender Simone De Luca is keen on the idea of changing his spritzes to suit the seasons: “The idea of this drink was a challenge — to get people interested in something that is not just a classic spritz but a seasonal one,” he tells Gentleman’s Journal.
"The idea of this drink was a challenge..."
“The ‘Cugino Spritz’ will change its identity every now and then based on what’s most delicious at that time of year.”
Right now, with fresh peaches at their most delicious, it makes sense to use fresh fruit. This is mirrored with a bittersweet peach liqueur (Simone uses a divine and artisanal Liquore Persichetto, but we tried it at home and Peach Schnapps works just as well).
There’s nothing in the world more relaxing than kicking back on a Friday afternoon with a sparkling, summery spritz. So follow the below recipe — or play with fruity flavours and experiment with melon, apricot or strawberry — to create this lightly fruity and slightly bitter drink. Saluté!
The Hoxton Hotel’s 'Cugino Spritz’
Ingredients:
- 35 ml Aperol, or Martini Fiero
- 15 ml Peach Schnapps, or Liquore Persichetto
- 15 ml Rosé Wine
- 4 drops Peach Bitters
- 75 ml Prosecco
Garnish:
- A slice of fresh peach
- A big green Italian olive
Method:
- Pour all the ingredients, apart from the Prosecco, into a wine glass or coupe.
- Fill the glass up with cubes of ice.
- Top up with Prosecco and stir, adding more ice and more Prosecco if necessary.
- Poke the peach slice and olive onto a cocktail stick and place into the glass.
- Garnish and enjoy!
Want a non-alcoholic option? Here’s how to make the CleanCo ‘Clean Americano’…
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