Pre dinner

Aperitivo is the name for both the moment of having a light pre-dinner drink, as well as the type of drink one would have at such a moment. It’s a time of friendship, sharing and belonging. The word aperitivo comes from the Latin ‘aperire’, meaning, “to open”. This word would be best described as that sensation one gets when they smell fresh bread baking in the oven – a scent that almost literally “opens the stomach”. That’s what an Italian aperitivo is supposed to do; encourage the appetite, so friends, family and loved ones can fully enjoy their upcoming meal together.

The most well-known, Italian aperitif is the Spritz. This easy and refreshing cocktail is a delicious drink especially for when the weather starts to warm up. It tastes like summertime in Italy and looks like a golden sunset. Galliano L’Aperitivo is high in Mediterranean fruity notes and will give your Spritz a fresh, yet complex palate and a delightful taste.

Now we like Negroni’s too, but as most of you know, it’s a strong cocktail. How about a twist that has the same bittersweet palate, but is lighter in alcohol. Try the Americano , where the negroni base spirit gin is replaced by soda water. Expect a nice bittersweet and bubbly aperitif cocktail. If you want to have a slightly more royal taste, replace the soda with Prosecco. There you go, a Sbagliato. This clever little concoction came to be, when the bartender grabbed a bottle of prosecco instead of gin when rushing to make a Negroni. Ever since that welcoming, little accident came to be known as the wrong/broken Negroni. Hence the name Negroni Sbagliato. (In Italian, “sbagliato” means wrong or mistaken)

If you don’t like the bitter taste, we suggest you try another Aperitif; Galliano Vanilla & ginger Ale. Galliano Vanilla gives the ginger ale a smooth finish and a squeeze of a lime wedge in the drink will give you a nice fresh touch as well. This easy, yet refreshing cocktail is a delicious drink, especially for when the weather gets hot. Want a slightly stronger variant, try it with Galliano L’Autentico. It also works well with Galliano Amaretto and Sambuca.