Just when you think you’ve got the measure of The House of Peroni, along they come with something fresh, exciting and new. Take the latest residency currently running in East London for instance. Sure, you can expect adventures in taste in every facet of Italian style but like always, they’ve taken things up to another level on the drinks front.
Don’t panic, Master of Taste Francesco Mazzei and Master of Mixology Simone Caporale are still overseeing procedures which means that flavour sensations are guaranteed. However, get set for your palate to experience a crash course in Italian citrus in all of its zingy, aromatic glory as you taste the way it pairs like a dream with Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Peroni Ambra and Peroni Nastro Azzurro Gluten Free.
Sidle up to Bar Citrus and try one of the truly special cocktails inspired by a group of tastemakers in drinks and art from a recent trip to Liguria in northern Italy. We caught up with Holly Tudor from the Alchemist in Manchester, to find out how being immersed in the sights, sounds and culture of Italy inspired her.
What were your first thoughts when you got the brief?
It was very exciting and mysterious – come to Italy and create a cocktail but I was very intrigued. Particularly when I heard about the other bartenders on the trip – Simone Caporale, Mia Johansson, Davide Manzi and Federico Doldi. Coming from the North of England it’s good to meet people from the south, we have a completely different style of bartending and I wanted to learn as much as possible. Also, I’ve never been to Italy and I wanted to immerse myself in the food, drink and culture.
What did you learn from the experience?
It was wonderful to learn about all of the beautiful fresh citrus produced in Italy, it was also incredible to talk to Giuseppe Gallo about Italian aperitifs – their history, taste and impact they have in drinks.
Have you used beer as a hero ingredient before?
Not in a cocktail I’ve created myself but I have made a Peroni cocktail with limoncello at a House of Peroni event and I must say, it worked really well. Peroni Nastro Azzurro is a light, fresh, citrusy beer anyway so it’s not really surprising what a great ingredient it is in cocktails.
You’ve been paired with Simone Caporale to create a cocktail for The House of Peroni using Peroni Nastro Azzurro and pink grapefruit. How did your time in Italy impact on your thinking behind your drink?
I wanted to go for an authentic Italian feel, something with a velvety mouthfeel using Italian aperitifs, – possibly like a Bellini. We ate a delicious basil sorbet one night while we were in Genoa so it made me think about basil as an ingredient and how I could incorporate that into a drink that reminds me of Italy.
Taste Pompelmo Rosa at The House of Peroni, N&C Showrooms, 3-10 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6PG, until 15th October.
For event information, details of the teams and their citrus journeys, see TheHouseOfPeroni.com
#InfusedWithItaly
