The Tamesis
Ford loved the Italian vermouth’s baking spices, cloves, nutmeg and bittersweet notes of caramel, but he especially liked how the Lambrusco added not only bubbles but also depth. Prosecco will have a lighter, crisper fizz, while Lambrusco may bring more structure and earthiness. “Obviously, the bubbles in the Lambrusco add body to the cocktail,” he says. “But you also infuse the drink with a strong red wine flavor.”
Dante, another beloved New York beverage destination, is keen to add Sprite to its menu no matter the season. In fact, as it expands beyond New York, it has set up outposts and pop-up shops in cities like Beverly Hills, Aspen, and London where Sprite is always available. And, not just any Sprite: There’s actually some Sprite on every menu, from the classic Aperol, to the Pineapple Daiquiri Sprite, to the Sbagliato.
“When we opened Dante Aspen in 2020, our most popular cocktail was the Aperol Spritz,” said Dante co-owner Linden Pride. “Sparkling wine and amaro [make for] Easy to drink, especially at high altitudes. This drink may be popular in the summer, but the low alcohol content and drinkable nature make it suitable for all seasons. “
This winter, bartenders at every Dante location (from the original Macdougal Street to London’s Claridge’s) will be serving up a Cranberry Spritz, which combines cranberry juice and Perrier-Jouët Champagne with house-made cranberry syrup, cardamom and vanilla. Pride explains that not only does the syrup have a warm spice reminiscent of cold weather, but the rosemary sprigs and slanted cranberry garnish also add a festive touch to the drink.
In Denver, Jovanina’s Broken Italian serves cranberry-rosemary shrub as its Neve Rosa (Italian for “pink snow”) flavor, served from a tableside after-dinner cart. This sparkling cocktail is actually a carbon copy of the Cosmopolitan, with Contratto aperitif (an Italian liqueur similar to Campari) instead of Cointreau or triple sec. “Adding Prosecco and club soda to this cocktail really brings out the flavor of the rosemary and makes the scent undeniably Italian and wintery, despite what many would call a warm-weather component,” says general manager John Long.
In Paris, Boubalé also launched Sprite for the winter, ditching the drink’s bitter and citrus flavors. Full of texture and subtle layers, its Julnâr blends champagne with sea lettuce, honey, celery and pine needle-infused vodka. Unlike the contrasting flavors that traditional Sprite offers, this Sprite is packed with umami, minerality and a soft texture that fits the way most people drink it during the winter months.
