Go Beyond Aperol Spritz & Discover the Real Sips of Italy
You’ve had an Aperol Spritz, maybe even a Negroni. But Italy is full of local, traditional drinks most tourists never even hear about — let alone taste.
Some are sweet, some are bitter, some are weird (hello, artichoke liqueur), but all of them tell a story.
Here are 7 uniquely Italian drinks you’ve probably never tried — but definitely should.
1️⃣ Chinotto – Italy’s Cult Cola
🍋 Think Coke meets Campari.
Made from the bitter chinotto citrus fruit, this dark soda is herbal, complex, and slightly mysterious. Kids grow up with it. Adults still love it.
🧊 Best served: Cold, with a lemon slice.
📍 Found in: Bars and supermarkets all over Italy.
2️⃣ Mirto – Sardinia in a Glass
🍇 A sweet liqueur made from myrtle berries.
Deep purple, slightly syrupy, and often homemade. It’s intense, floral, and tastes like Sardinian summer nights.
🧊 Best served: Ice cold as a digestivo.
📍 Found in: Sardinia (and some parts of Corsica).
3️⃣ Cedrata – The Lemonade’s Fancy Cousin
🍋 Made from the giant citrus called “cedro.”
Sweeter and smoother than lemon soda, cedrata is golden yellow and full of vintage vibes — it was the drink of Italian summers in the 60s.
🧊 Best served: Over ice with a slice of orange.
📍 Found in: Southern Italy, especially Calabria.
4️⃣ Cynar – The Artichoke Aperitif
🌿 Yes, it’s made from artichokes.
This herbal bitter liqueur is earthy, bold, and surprisingly refreshing in a spritz. Don’t knock it till you try it.
🧊 Best served: As a Cynar Spritz or over ice with orange.
📍 Found in: Most bars across Italy.
5️⃣ Vov – The Egg Liqueur You Didn’t Know You Needed
🥚 Sweet, creamy, and old-school.
Invented in the 1800s, Vov is made with egg yolk, sugar, and marsala wine. It tastes like dessert in a shot glass.
🧊 Best served: Warm in winter or over ice in summer.
📍 Found in: Northern Italy (and ski lodges!).
6️⃣ Ratafià – A Cherry Bomb from the Alps
🍒 Fruit + wine + time = magic.
A traditional mountain liqueur made by infusing cherries in red wine and spirits. Each bottle is slightly different — often homemade and rustic.
🧊 Best served: Chilled after a meal.
📍 Found in: Valle d’Aosta, Abruzzo, and Piedmont.
7️⃣ Sgropin – Veneto’s Boozy Sorbet
🍾 Frozen, fizzy, and fabulous.
This is basically lemon sorbet + prosecco + vodka served in a glass — often as a palate cleanser during long dinners. You’ll wonder why it’s not on every menu.
🧊 Best served: Frozen, with a spoon or straw.
📍 Found in: Veneto & Friuli Venezia Giulia.
✨ Why These Drinks Matter
Because every Italian region has its own flavors, herbs, fruits, and traditions.
To drink like a local is to travel deeper — and to surprise your taste buds.
👣 Want to Sip the Real Italy?
Join Tour Guide Erik on a food & drink tour where you’ll taste what tourists never order — from bitter herbal liqueurs to sweet alpine secrets.
Follow @baccotours
for reels, drink guides, and how to order like a true Italian. 🇮🇹🍷
Because Italy’s best drinks don’t come with a straw…
They come with stories.
