Mionetto a la Cucina Fresca

My recipe simply combines a few ingredients that celebrate Italian flavors. First, mionetto and fresh squeezed lemon juice to add vibrancy, lift and acidity and form the base of a spritz cocktail. Then, I hand crafted blood orange lemoncello while blood oranges were at the height of their season and allowed it to steep for a six weeks over the winter. I love crafting it as a gift for friends throughout the year, and the rich flavor and slight bitter character adds wonderful complexity and structure, just as tannin is essential to good red wine. Lastly, I used a fat washing technique to infuse the flavor of good quality olive oil along side fresh oregano and rosemary to an orange liqueur for a touch of sweetness and to really showcase the wonderful rich and herbal notes of the Prosecco and lift those to the front of the palate. Stirring together simply and building the drink straight into the glass means it’s easy to share, and all the ingredients are easily prepared ahead so you can focus on entertaining.