Cocktail in Venice
 

We are leaving for Venice next week and I have spent hours reading the message board here for travel tips. I enjoy wine coolers, Pina Colada or sweet wine such as Asti Spumante (yes, I have a sweet tooth). Any suggestions what I should order in Venice?

Sgroppino (Which I call a singing gondolier). A great after-dinner drink. Below is my recipe.

Singing Gondolier (aka Sgroppino)
2 cups (16 oz) lemon sorbet, softened
2 Tbsp vodka
1/3 cup Prosecco
4 Tbsp cream or half-and-half

Here is what I have done. I can't just put two Tbsp of vodka in anything. You don't want the vodka to overpower either. I used four Tbsps. and one more tblspoon of cream

Melt the lemon sorbet until soft, and put ingredientsl in a blender. Blend until it becomes somewhat liquidy (I don't think that's a word, but who cares). Then comes the maitaitom method to make it frothy.

As it blends, open the little top of the blender and add the white of one egg as it continues to blend. Blend a little longer.

Pour immediately after blending or the mixture will separate. Drink perfection is an ongoing process, so should anyone have a better recipe, I am open to ideas. It is a perfect after dinner, stomach soothing drink.


((H))

Yummy! All I need now is for you to go to Venice and prepare it for us and maybe sing for us! Thanks!

Wendie - a favorite drink for native Venetians and tourists alike is a Prosecco. It's a sparkling white wine from the region. Any place in Venice will have it.

You can get it at most liquor stores in the US to sample before you go.

Try a Bellini... peach nector and prosecco. Yum, yum, yum. I even had one for breakfast! ;-)

Spritz

Spritz - made from:

Prosecco.
Slug of Aperol or Campari.
Top up with soda water.
Add a green olive on a stick.

Ask for Aperol, not Campari, which is drier than Aperol.
Costs about 2.50 Euro.

Another vote for a Bellini. We had one most days as an aperitivo :)

Steve

A bellini at Harry's Bar is the tourist thing to do. You will pay dearly! The Sgroppino sounds wonderful.

What's the other drink at Harry's?

There is an aperitivo but I can't find the name in my notes. The Bellini is sweeter.

"All I need now is for you to go to Venice and prepare it for us and maybe sing for us!"

I'll be happy to come make drinks for you two, however you might want to get far away before the singing. Have fun!!!

On a cold and rainy afternoon, try a Caffè corretto; a shot of espresso and a shot of grappa. You won't be cold for long!

((H))

No need to pay for an expensive Bellini in Harry's Bar... I didn't and wouldn't.

You can buy large bottles of pre-mixed Bellini's all over Venice. Or you can buy a bottle of processo and some peach nectar to make your own.

My hotel had 2 750ml bottles in my room as a welcome gift.

I know, I know, but it's a gotta do!

Thanks to you all for your great advise! I am REALLY thirsty now....gotta go! Wendie

If you have a preference for sweet drinks, do NOT order a Spritz. I personally love them, but the Campari component (even the Aperol) has a bitter taste that takes some getting used to, and I doubt that those who like sweeter drinks will enjoy it. Stick with Bellinis or Prosecco. Sgroppinos are especially yummy, but better as a dessert drink, not an aperitif.

You can buy large bottles of pre-mixed Bellini's all over Venice. Or you can buy a bottle of processo and some peach nectar to make your own.

My hotel had 2 750ml bottles in my room as a welcome gift.>>

perhaps not to the OP's taste, but you can get little conical bottles of ready-mixws campari and soda all over Italy. perfetto with some olives.

The green olives in the spritz really turned me off of that one!! The Campari was bad enough, but then olives?? (P.S. I love olives in martinis, but they seem to fit there.)

You can choose from any of the above cocktails but I would recommend one of two locations for a magical experience. Try either the rooftop bar at the Danieli Hotel or the canal side terrace bar at the Westin Excelsior. You dont' have to be staying there to enjoy a drink nor do you have to order dinner. Both are beautiful spots regardless of what you are drinking.