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Grappa · Shake
Grappa is an Italian brandy made from grape pomace. Lemon, honey, and a chamomile infusion turn it into a Sour, a tart drink with a touch of sweetness. It's served cold in the small tumbler, over fresh ice.
As of: · Modern Italian cocktail culture
First you taste the lemon. It's distinctly sour, but immediately caught by the honey. Then the Grappa comes through, clear and grapey, with a bit of warmth in the throat. The chamomile lies on top and recalls blossoms and tea. It also brings sweetness, since the cordial is a sweetened infusion. In the end, that floral flavor lingers. A few drops of egg white make the surface frothy and the drink softer. Still, it's strong: 45 ml of Grappa meets 22.5 ml of lemon juice.
This drink suits the time before a meal and the early evening. It's fresh enough for warm days yet no lightweight. Anyone who only knows Grappa neat will experience it here from a milder side. Beginners will get on well, as long as they like sour. Anyone who prefers sweet will find the lemon too present.
What matters
Pure honey is thick and doesn't mix well in a cold shaker. Stir it beforehand with an equal amount of water to make a honey mix. The water can also be a cooled chamomile infusion. The chamomile cordial is its own sweetened ingredient, not a simple tea. Shake vigorously, or the sweetness will stay at the bottom of the glass. With egg white, shaking takes a few seconds longer.
Ve.N.To is a young cocktail. It belongs to the recipes that showcase Grappa as a mixing ingredient rather than just a spirit to be sipped on its own. Honey, chamomile, and lemon shape the pomace brandy into the form of a Sour. Exactly who invented it and when can't be pinned down cleanly: published accounts contradict each other. So no year and no name appear here. What's certain is the Italian origin of the spirit, and that explains the drink's direction better than any embellished origin story.
In the same direction
Gin and lemon form the backbone, while Maraschino and a bar spoon of Crème de Violette add fragrance on top. The Aviation is a clear, sour cocktail with a pale, faintly bluish color.
Zum RezeptGin, honey and citrus: in the Bee's Knees, honey syrup does most of the sweetening; the orange juice also brings natural sugar along. This version adds orange juice alongside lemon, tasting softer and fruitier as a result.
Zum RezeptRum and Cognac share the base, orange liqueur bridges the two, and lemon pushes back against them. Between the Sheets is a strong, dry citrus cocktail in the style of a Sidecar.
Zum Rezept