Spring is not just in the air—it’s also starting to show up on restaurant menus and on the racks of designer boutiques. To toast to the colors and flavors of the season, two noted Italian brands have joined forces for a limited-edition partnership that showcases the best of both their industries. On the food and beverage side is restaurant group Altamarea, whose global portfolio of restaurants includes the Michelin-starred Marea and the buzzing Osteria Morini, both in New York City. And on the fashion side is Falconeri, a Trentino-based luxury line specializing in fine cashmere.
Running through May (and possibly longer), the partnership will feature such elements as Falconeri discount vouchers for diners at Marea and Osteria Morini, and the presentation of complimentary mocktails at Falconeri’s Soho boutique. But, as Ahmass Fakahany, CEO and owner of Altamarea Group, explains, “creating a signature cocktail that draws inspiration from both brands felt like the most organic way to kick off the partnership.” So to that end, they enlisted Kelly Verardo, bar manager at Osteria Morini, to create the Falconeri Corallo, a drink inspired by both the textures of fine cashmere and the coral color swatch featured in Falconeri’s spring collection.
Given that Altamarea Group spotlights the Negroni cocktail at all its restaurants (Osteria Morini even has a dedicated Negroni menu), Verardo also “thought it would be nice to do a Negroni spin using products made in Falconeri’s home province of Trentino-Alto Adige,” she explains. To do so, she looked to ingredients from Antica Erboristeria Cappelletti, a fourth-generation company that’s been making liquors in Trentino since 1909.
The resulting drink features Cappelletti products like the wine-based Aperitivo—which Verardo says “may be the oldest red bitter still in production”—and Amaro Pasubio, a fruitier amaro made from mountain berries from the Dolomite Mountains. The rhubarb-based Amaro Sfumato, meanwhile, adds a “dark and smoky” quality. It’s all topped off with gin and a garnish of a candied orange peel coated with blueberry dust, to mimic the look of fine cashmere.
Verardo says the Falconeri Corallo is best enjoyed as an aperitif—maybe with a nice antipasti board—but could also go with a substantial main dish. “As the drink is amaro-heavy, it would also make for a great nightcap—especially after a hearty dinner,” she adds. Here, Verardo reveals the recipe for the creation, including how you can easily create the “blueberry dust” to give the garnish its cashmere-like look.
Falconeri Corallo Cocktail
Glass: Double Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
For the drink:
1.5 oz of Tanqueray Gin
1 oz Aperitivo Cappelletti
1/2 oz Cappelletti Amaro Pasubio
1/2 oz Cappelletti Amaro Sfumato
For the garnish:
Orange rind
Freeze-dried blueberries (available at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s)
Sugar
Method:
- Put the freeze-dried blueberries and sugar (three parts blueberries to one part sugar) into a spice grinder or small blender, and grind into a fine powder. Coat peeled orange rind with the powder and set aside.
- Add all the drink ingredients to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir well.
- Strain over a large ice cube into the Double Old Fashioned Glass, add garnish to the rim, and serve.