Cheers!
Naples Illustrated asked restaurants to create a special drink in order to toast the magazine’s 10th anniversary, as well as the 10th anniversary of Perfect 10. Here are creations by some of the area’s mix masters. Raise a glass!
Decadence
For NI’s decadent anniversary party at Strip House, Christiania Vodka’s resident mixologist Dalio Calado created the Christi Decadence, appropriately Strip House red.
Christi Decadence
21/2 parts Christiania Vodka
21/2 parts rosé brut Champagne/Prosecco
Top with premium grenadine (to taste)
Pour all ingredients in a highball cocktail glass. Stir and garnish with a mint leaf and a lime wedge, squeezed generously into the cocktail.
Blue Salute
Juli Hazlett, bartender at Noodles Italian Café & Sushi Bar, created the Passionate Blue Sapphire Martini.
Passionate Blue Sapphire Martini
2 parts Hypnotiq Cognac
1 part Champagne
1 part Peach Schnapps liqueur
1/2 part Blue Curaçao liqueur
Combine liquors, Champagne and add splash of pineapple juice. Shake over crushed ice and strain into martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist.
“The traditional 10th anniversary gemstone is a blue sapphire—a magnificent, passionate jewel,” says restaurant owner Matt Berman. “We associated the color blue and created this original martini to reflect Naples Illustrated’s flexibility and durability—two time-honored symbols of 10-year anniversaries.”
The specialty drink features Hypnotiq—an exquisite blend of premium vodka bottled in France—natural tropical mango and pineapple fruit juices and a hint of Cognac, which combine to produce a frosted blue color; Champagne; Peach Schnapps liqueur; Blue Curaçao liqueur (a sweet blue liqueur distilled from the dried peel of Seville oranges from the Caribbean island of Curaci) and pineapple juice.
The presentation of the drink is important, Hazlett says. “Garnish the Passionate Blue Sapphire Martini with a lemon twist. It’s simple, but effective!”
Shoe in
Truluck’s knows there’s no place like home, and Amanda Kasper has created a magical drink called Ruby Slippers destined to inspire heel clicking.
Ruby Slippers
11/2 ounces Ruby Red Absolut
1/2 ounce Triple Sec
1/2 ounce cranberry juice
1/2 ounce grapefruit juice
Combine all ingredients into shaker with ice; shake well, strain into glass. Garnish with twist.
