Italicus Spritz

The Italicus Spritz is a relatively recent addition to the world of cocktails, born from the revival of an ancient Italian liqueur. The story begins with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, the key ingredient of the cocktail. Italicus, crafted with bergamot and a variety of other botanicals, has its roots in a traditional Italian liqueur called Rosolio. Once popular in the Italian royal courts of the 19th century, Rosolio was known as the ‘Aperitivo di Corte’ or the ‘Aperitif of the Court.’ The modern Italicus is a contemporary reimagining of this historic recipe. It was brought back to life in 2016 by Giuseppe Gallo, a renowned Italian mixologist and spirits expert, who aimed to revive the forgotten category of Rosolio. He focused on bergamot, a fragrant citrus fruit predominantly grown in the Calabria region of Italy, and blended it with other botanicals to create a unique and sophisticated liqueur. The Italicus Spritz cocktail itself gained popularity as bartenders and mixologists around the world began to embrace the revived Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto. Its simplicity, combining Italicus with Prosecco and optionally a splash of soda water, made it a hit in bars and restaurants, especially for brunch and daytime gatherings. The cocktail is valued for its delicate, floral taste that perfectly complements light and elegant social occasions. Today, the Italicus Spritz stands as a symbol of Italian heritage and modern mixology, a testament to the timeless appeal of Italian aperitivo culture. Its popularity continues to grow, offering a taste of Italy’s rich history with every glass.