Why You Should Add Cappelletti as an Aperitivo Liqueur to Your Bar
Known by the name “Specialino” in its home of Italy, Cappelletti Aperitivo is a treat to behold.
It is a ruby red, bitter aperitif that has been making a splash overseas for years but has recently grown in popularity here in the US. So what is Cappelletti Aperitivo, why is everyone adding to their at-home bars, and, most importantly, what kinds of drinks can you make with it?
What Is Cappelletti Aperitivo?
If you go searching online for Cappelletti Aperitivo, you will find a large number of articles espousing its popularity and flavor; these articles, confusingly, refer to it as either a bitter, liqueur, aperitif, or a wine. So which is it? Interestingly, it is all of them. Specifically, Cappelletti is a type of liqueur called an Amaro (or Amari for plural). Amaro means “bitter” in Italian, and these liqueurs do hold many similarities to traditional western bitters, such as Angostura, but are fundamentally not the same. Western-style, called “cocktail bitters,” are too intense to drink straight and are instead used as additives in cocktails to add more complexity to a drink. While the most common form of cocktail bitters are orange-flavored, they come in many different varieties, and each can add a distinct undertone to a cocktail.
On the other hand, an Amaro is a liqueur that has a much more mild flavor and can either be added to a drink as a mix, drank straight over ice, or cut with club soda and citrus. Traditionally, Amaro is used either as a digestif (post-dinner drink meant to help digestion) or aperitif (pre-dinner drink to open the palate) in Italy.
Amaros and cocktail bitters are made from similar ingredients like seeds, spices, herbs, and other botanicals. Cocktail bitters have a more significant infusion and are much more potent, and used in dropper quantities in drinks. Amaros are are made from spirits, or in Cappelletti’s case, wine, and have added sugar or natural sweeteners.
One of the biggest concerns in the Amaro arena is what is the color or the liqueur? Many amaros are red, and can be coloered with either artificial colors or with a crushed up bugs called cochineal dye. This was a popular and older way to color a liquid. Most large companies moved to the artificial red dyes, but Cappelletti remains a true cochineal dyed liqueur.
What Is Cappelletti Apertivo Used For?
Cappelletti Apertivo, like most Amaros, is a versatile drink. It can be used as a mixer for cocktails, sipped straight over ice with citrus, or combined with club soda to make a spritz.
How Much Does It Cost?
A single bottle of Cappelletti will run you around $20.00, not including shipping; some sites also allow you to buy in bulk, with 12 bottles equalling just shy of $250.00.
Why Should You Use Cappelletti Aperitivo?
While certain Amaros are becoming popular here in the US, the most notable being Campari, some of the more local brands to Italy have yet to transition to the Western Cocktail world fully. Because of this, many cocktail enthusiasts here in the US haven’t experienced the full range of options for Amaro, and Cappelletti is one of the best first steps you can take into this profound world of Italian liqueurs. So, if you enjoy Campari or Spritz cocktails in general, you owe it to yourself to give Cappelletti a try.
Cappelletti Aperitivo Recipes
Cappelletti has a sweet, herbal taste with a bitter finish. It has a sweeter profile than most Amaro, making it perfect for both sipping and mixing; if you want to drink it straight, combine with ice and a lemon twirl, and if its flavor is too strong, consider adding a dash of club soda. But if you’re looking for something more complex, here are some of our favorite recipes that use Cappelletti.
1: Spritz
An Italian tradition, the Spritz is used as an aperitif and as a post-work refresher. Part bitter liqueur(or, in this case, Cappelletti), part sparkling white wine, and part club soda, this cocktail is both easy to make as it is invigorating. It dates back to the early 1900s and is still enjoyed today both across Italy and the US.
Ingredients:
3 oz. of Prosecco (we recommend Riondo Prosecco Frizzante)
2 oz. of Cappelletti Aperitivo
1 oz. of Top Note Tonic Club Soda
Dash of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
Orange Peel for Garnish
Ice
Instructions:
Add Prosecco, Cappelletti, ice, and club soda to a chilled glass.
Stir.
Add the dash of orange and orange peel.
Sip and enjoy.
2: Cappelletti Boulevardier
The Boulevardier was created by Erskine Gwynne and popularized by Harry McElhone in his book Barflies and Cocktails. The Boulevardier is a beautiful take on the classic Negroni, and our version, which substitutes Campari with Cappelletti, is an excellent take on the classic Boulevardier. This cocktail combines the sweetness, bitterness, and crispness of the Boulevardier with Cappelletti’s extraordinary depth and herbiness; we can’t recommend it more.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Rye Whiskey (We recommend Four Roses Single Barrel)
.75 oz. Cappelletti Aperitivo
.75 oz. Sweet Vermouth (We recommend Carpano Punt E Mes)
1 Orange Twist for Garnish
Ice
Instructions:
Add whiskey, Cappelletti, vermouth, and ice to a mixing glass.
Stir until chilled (this may take some time).
Strain into a rock’s glass with new ice.
Add orange twist.
3: Cappelletti Americano
The Americano is perhaps the best medium to savor the subtle flavors of Cappelletti; the simple profile and few ingredients allow the subtle aromatics of Cappelletti to shine. The Americano was invented in 1860 at Gaspare Campari’s bar and is thought to be a precursor to the famous Negroni.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Cappelletti Aperitivo
1.5 oz. of Sweet Vermouth (we recommend Quady Vya Sweet Vermouth or Carpano Antica)
Top Note Tonic Club Soda to Top
Orange Twist for Garnish
Ice
Instructions:
Fill the glass with Cappelletti, Vermouth, and ice.
Stir.
Top with club soda.
Add orange twist.
If you are interested in any of our other recipes, you can check them out here, or if you want to browse our selection of artisan mixers, you can view our products here.
