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Cocktail History
The Bicicletta is a classic cocktail that is believed to have been created in Italy in the 1930s. It’s traditionally made with Prosecco and Campari and topped off with soda water for some added sparkle, and it’s said to have been named for the elderly men who would swerve all over the road on their bicycles after drinking too many of them in the afternoon at the cafe.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Sparkling Wine: This is a carbonated wine made with white or red grapes. I used La Marca Prosecco.
Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. I used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water.
Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, and alcohol.
Lemon Wheel: This is a slice of lemon that has been cut into a circular shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright orange-red color
• Aroma: Citrus and wine
• Taste: Initially dry white wine flavor cut with bitter gentian root
• Finish: Lingering bitterness
Kendall’s Take: “I am not Campari’s biggest fan yet, so I didn’t go for this cocktail since there isn’t a lot of sweetness to counter its telltale bitterness. If you do enjoy sipping a dry, palate-tingling drink though, you’ll be pleasantly surprised what the Bicicletta has to offer. It is refreshing, and mixing Campari with bubbly is interesting.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Bicicletta
Description
The Bicicletta is a classic cocktail that is believed to have been created in Italy in the 1930s. It’s traditionally made with Prosecco and Campari and topped off with soda water for some added sparkle, and it’s said to have been named for the elderly men who would swerve all over the road on their bicycles after drinking too many of them in the afternoon at the cafe.
Ingredients
Method
Fill a wine glass with cracked ice.
Add Campari and sparkling wine to wine glass.
Top with soda water.
Garnish with lemon wheel.
