This is my new drink of choice.
Cocktail San Pellegrino.
Don’t ask me what’s in it though or what it tastes like, because it’s really hard to explain. They say it’s ginger-flavored, but it’s nothing like ginger ale.
It’s not one of those things you drink all the time though. It’s more of an aperitivo and it’s not alcoholic at all. In fact, despite what some may think, widespread drinking isn’t all that common in Italy. Yes, there’s wine with meals, but I can count on one hand (and not use up all the fingers) the number of times I’ve actually seen someone drunk. Plus, it’s not that falling down, obnoxious, disgusting drunk that you often see in the US. Enough said about that….
We usually go out for an aperitivo on Sundays, before the main meal. Sometimes we’ll splurge and have a prosecchino and other times we’ll opt for a Cocktail San Pellegrino. With your aperitivo you usually get some snacks, kind of like happy hour in the States where they’ll bring chips, pretzels, nuts, etc. There are actually some bars that bring things more on the line of hors d’oeuvres. Of course, you pay more for the drinks there too.
But back to my new drink of choice. Isn’t it a pretty color?
Like I said, I’m not sure what’s in it. There are other types too and they’re all kind of bitter. This company makes another one called Sanbitter. Notice it says “Zero Alcol, Molto Spirito”.
Plus there’s one called Crodino. (Sorry, no picture) The Cocktail San Pellegrino is my favorite though. What does it taste like? Well, like I said in the title, it definitely is an acquired taste. It’s a little bitter and does have a hint of something somewhat like cough syrup. I know, you’re thinking that it doesn’t sound particularly appetizing or refreshing. But really, once you get used to it, it’s quite good. I know some friends out there who are saying, “No way, tried that and I’m not drinking it again.” You know who you are.
Of course, O told me that “they” (the all-knowing, impossible to pinpoint “they”) say that if you drink too much of it your eyeballs will bulge out. I keep checking in the mirror, but so far, they seem pretty normal. If I start looking like Marty Feldman, you’ll know why.
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I am not fond of anything ‘aperitvo’ as it’s too bitter for me. I have been offered the red stuff on several occasions and each time I wanted to spit it out! lol
Now, when people offer it to me, I kindly decline. Often, my husband drinks the crodino when he stops at the bar. He likes that stuff. You’re right though, it is an aquired taste.
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Giulia, At first I didn’t like it and I thought, “why would anyone actually choose to drink this stuff?” But, then I tried it a couple of more times and I do like it now. Although I still do find the red stuff to be a little too bitter. Crodino’s not bad, but the Cocktail is the best.
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Like Giulia, most of the apertivi are much too bitter for me. I always opt for a Tassoni cedrata if it’s available. I had the San Pellegrino Cocktail once- it was offered to me already poured into a glass and I thought it might be blood orange aranciata. What a surprise when I took a sip. My husband LOVES drinking bitters, though, so we often have them in the house.
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Oh I like any of these. I think they are an acquired taste, but nice.
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Thanks Delina. I was beginning to think I was the only one who liked them.
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Ooh, I had this just once, on my last trip to Italy. Eeeeeuuuuuwwww is about the best description I can give of the taste. If I stop and think about it I would offer ‘grapefruit’ as a possible explanation of its strange bitter taste.
It definitely made a lasting impression on me and I won’t be in a rush to try it again.
The good thing about it was that it made the food that followed it taste absolutely heavenly…
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Now, it’s not that bad. Like I said, it’s definitely an acquired taste. I wasn’t crazy about it in the beginning either. But, at least you saw the bright side of the whole experience
)
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