Italicus cocktails made with “rosolio di bergamotto”, a bergamot (citrus) infused drink which creates a light and refreshing spritz or cocktails. Italicus liqueur predates Vermouth, and other historic Italian liqueurs.

If you’re looking for a new Italian aperitivo, I have just what you’re looking for: allow me to introduce you to Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto liqueur and Italicus cocktails.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

bottle of Italicus in NYC bar — I first discovered Italicus due to the beautiful blue bottle at Dante in New York City.

What is Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto?

While rosolio di bergamotto (morning dew of bergamot, a citrus) predates other aperitivi like Vermouth and Aperol, Italicus bergamot liqueur was created by Giuseppe Gallo. You may recognize bergamot as the flavor in Earl Grey tea and these Earl Grey cookies.

The bergamot used by Italicus are top quality, grown on the Calabrian coast, as well as a Sicilian cedro (another citrus.) These are mixed with Mediterranean herbs and flowers and bottled in a factory in Turin, the home of the aperitivo.

What is the History of Rosolio di Bergamotto?

Rosolio di Bergamotto was once the favored aperitivo drink for the King of Italy (based in Turin.) Aperitivo is a common pre-dinner welcome drink for Italians (to whet the appetite) and this is what was served, according to the above featured interview article from Park Street. So Italicus liqueur is essentially recreating a forgotten, historic, and royal product. I think that’s pretty cool!

Have you tried a Hugo spritz yet? Another great choice for an aperitivo cocktail!

What Cocktails can I Make with Italicus?

There are several Italicus cocktails I can recommend, but with its light, citrusy flavor profile, you can create your own, too! I’m sharing the classic Italicus Spritz recipe, my twist on the Italicus Cup, and you can use it for an Italian margarita, and more. Below is an Italicus Cup I had in Urbino, Italy last week. It was made the classic way using grapefruit soda, but I honestly much prefer freshly squeezed grapefruit juice as it’s less sweet.

Italicus Spritz

Recipe slightly adapted from Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto Makes 2 cocktails

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto liqueur
Prosecco DOP
green olives
ice

Special equipment

Note: I used 12 oz and 13 oz glasses, you can use smaller to fill the glass more.

Directions for Italicus Cocktails (1)

Fill the glasses with your choice of ice, and as much as you prefer (I used crushed, but also like a large round ball.)

Add the Italicus liqueur, and the Prosecco.

Skewer three olives onto each of two cocktail picks.

Serve with your choice of aperitivo nibbles such as cured Italian meats, cheeses and bread, bruschetta, or roasted red pepper crostini, as a few examples.

Italicus Cup

Adapted from Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto Makes 2 cocktails

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
grapefruit
Prosecco DOC
ice

Special equipment

Directions for Italicus Cocktails (2)

Cut a grapefruit in half, then cut a single slice and set aside for garnishing the cocktails. Squeeze the two halves of the citrus.

Strain the juice, then add ice to two glasses.

Add the Italicus liqueur to each glass, then add the grapefruit juice (or soda).

Add the Prosecco, and garnish with a slice or wedge of grapefruit.

Serve immediately with choice of nibbles. As noted above, the original Italicus cup uses grapefruit soda, but I prefer grapefruit juice. Choose the one you prefer, and let me know in the comments.

Let me know which Italicus coctails you’ll be trying and if you prefer the Italicus Spritz or Italicus Cup (with grapefruit juice or soda)?