Dolce Vita
An Italian-inspired sour with almond sweetness, herbal bitterness and a hint of pineapple and citrus.
Ingredients
- Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro, Zucca Rabarbaro also works22.5 ml
- Irish whiskey15 ml
- Amaretto37.5 ml
- Lemon juice, freshly squeezed22.5 ml
- Pineapple juice7.5 ml
- Agave syrup7.5 ml
- Saline solution (20%)3 drops
- Lemon, to garnish (optional)1 twist
Method
- Chill a coupe or martini glass thoroughly.
- Add the rhubarb amaro, whiskey, amaretto, lemon juice, pineapple juice, agave syrup and saline to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake hard for 10–15 seconds for good chilling and dilution.
- Strain through a fine strainer into the cold glass.
- Twist the lemon peel over the drink to release its aromatic oils, and serve.
Patrick Pistolesi, Drink Kong, Rome
About this drink
The Dolce Vita was created by Patrick Pistolesi at Drink Kong in Rome to mark Disaronno's 500th anniversary. It is a modern, complex take on the Amaretto Sour, in which rhubarb amaro and Irish whiskey add depth behind the almond liqueur's sweetness. The salted finish is a small but decisive detail that ties the acidity and sweetness together.
Questions and answers
Why is there so little whiskey in a Dolce Vita?
The amaretto and the amaro are the lead voices here, and the small measure of whiskey simply adds a light, round base without taking over. It is an Amaretto Sour in spirit, not a whiskey drink.
Does it have to be Irish whiskey?
A blended Scotch works too, but Irish whiskey's gentler, rounder profile suits the sweetness of the amaretto better than a smokier or drier whisky.
What is Amaro Sfumato Rabarbaro, and can you replace it?
A northern Italian amaro made with smoked rhubarb root, which gives the Dolce Vita its dark, gently smoky base. Another rhubarb amaro such as Zucca comes closest; an ordinary amaro will do at a pinch but loses the smoke that ties the amaretto and whiskey together.
