Prep Time

　　30 minutes

　　Active Time

　　5 minutes

　　Total Time

　　35 minutes

　　Inspired by a cocktail from New York City bartender Natasha David, the crimson-colored Tarocco Spritz is a nod to the flavor and color of the Sicilian Tarocco orange, often referred to as the “half-blood orange.” A mixed-heritage cocktail, this drink has a bumped-up base of gin to match the vibrant bitter aperitivo liqueur Cappelletti. The drink’s acidity comes courtesy of blood orange, lemon juice, and prosecco, bound together by the unlikely addition of vanilla, which complements Cappelletti’s notes of spice and oxidation.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 1 cocktail

　　

For the vanilla syrup:

1 cup sugar

　　1 cup water

　　1 vanilla bean

　　

For the cocktail:

1 ounce gin

　　1/2 ounce Cappelletti

　　3/4 ounce fresh blood orange juice

　　1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice

　　1/2 ounce vanilla syrup

　　2 ounces Prosecco

　　1 blood orange wheel, for garnish

　　

For the syrup:

Step 1

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan. Split open the vanilla bean with a small knife and scrape the contents into the pan; add the bean pod. Turn the heat on low and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Strain, bottle, and store in the refrigerator for up to one month.

　　

For the cocktail:

Step 2

Add the gin, Cappelletti, orange juice, lemon juice, and vanilla syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain over fresh ice, top with the Prosecco, and add the garnish.

　　Text excerpted from SPRITZ © 2016 by Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau. Reproduced by permission of Ten Speed Press. All rights reserved.