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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. We used La Marca Prosecco because it has a crisp and refreshing taste with floral notes. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine.
Campari: This is a liqueur made in Italy with gentian root, rhubarb, citrus, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Giffard Non-Alcoholic Bitter Syrup in place of the bitter liqueur.
Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. We used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water because it’s light, essentially flavorless, and refreshing.
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. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Tasting Notes
The Bicicletta leads with a slight citrus aroma, has an initially dry taste of white wine cut with a bit of Campari bitter-sweetness, and ends with a lingering bitterness in the throat that will leave you craving another sip.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: If you’re like Kendall and don’t love Campari, you may not enjoy this cocktail as much since there isn’t a lot of sweetness to counter its telltale taste. But if you do enjoy sipping a dry, palate-tingling drink like Alex does, you’ll be pleasantly surprised what the Bicicletta has to offer.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
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.
Add sparkling wine, Campari, and cracked ice to a wine glass.
Top with soda water.
Stir gently for 3-5 seconds.
Garnish with lemon wheel.
Ingredients
Directions
Add sparkling wine, Campari, and cracked ice to a wine glass.
Top with soda water.
Stir gently for 3-5 seconds.
Garnish with lemon wheel.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Prosecco in place of the sparkling wine and Giffard Non-Alcoholic Bitter Syrup in place of the bitter liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Campari Cocktails
If you like this cocktail recipe, here are a few others made with Campari we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Garibaldi: A Campari cocktail made with orange juice and an orange slice
Rhubarb & Gingerbread Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, gingerbread syrup, and an orange peel
Jungle Bird: A rum cocktail made with Campari, lime juice, simple syrup, pineapple juice, and a lime wheel
Old Pal: A whiskey cocktail made with dry vermouth, Campari, and an orange twist
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