"Picture it, Sicily..." Sophia Petrillo
While contemplating what my next blog post should be about, I recently was given a gorgeous tiki bar (more info on the bar and who it came from below) and as soon as I saw it, all I could think about it was the Golden Girls! Which happens to be one of my all time favorite tv shows! The original Sex and the City! Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and of course my homegirl Sophia! Sophia Petrillo is a sarcastic, sharp witted, straight shooting little old Sicilian lady that lives in Miami. Now what would Sophia drink? She is Italian, lives in Miami, has a beautiful Lanai to drink a fun and refreshing cocktail...so let's embrace those last few warmer days and nights we have with a fun tiki style cocktail! Here I have a fantastic Italian Mai Tai variation made with the lovely Amaro Montenegro that takes the place of the Curaçao, trust me it is fantastic! Picture it...The Sophia Petrillo!
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Lime juice
- 1/2 oz. St. Vincent Almond Orgeat (shake well before using)
- 3/4 oz. Amaro Montenegro
- 1 1/2 oz. Diplomatico Exclusiva Riserva Rum
Instructions:
Take out your jigger and shaker tin and measure out and combine all ingredients into the tin. Dry whip all ingredients without ice in the tin for 10 seconds making sure all ingredients are combined. Next add 4-5 medium sized cubes and shake for 5 seconds and then with your strainer pour out into a chilled double old fashioned glass filled with crushed ice. You can make crushed ice by filling a gallon plastic bag with ice, seal it and then cover the bag with a towel and then pound the ice and cracking it into small pieces. I use a muddler but anything heavy and sturdy will do! Lastly I grab 1-2 mint sprigs and place on my palm and give them a nice slap and shake, this awakens the mint and brings out the aroma! Place the mint sprigs in the crushed ice and serve. Enjoy!
A little background on my preferred spirits and inclusions:
Amaro Montenegro: An Italian digestivo made in Bologna, Italy founded by Stanislao Cobianchi in 1885. It is made with 40 different herbs including rose hips, vanilla and orange peels. It is named after Princess Elena of Montenegro. Stanislao must of fancied her...
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Venezuelan Rum: A copper pot distilled funky and fun Venezuelan rum made from molasses. That is aged for 12 years in small oak casks making it a deep rich amber color. Flavor notes of brown sugar, toffee, oranges, raisins, chocolate and cinnamon. The distillery is located on the northern slopes of the Andes mountains. This rum is one of the most awared rums in the world!
Almond Orgeat syrup: I use St. Vincent brand but most speciality liquor stores will have some sort of Orgeat syrup.
I was lucky enough to inherit this beautiful three seat tiki bar from my parents good friends (Thanks Jim and Toni!) and it came from his Uncle Gary. Gary Fraser aka Uncle Gary was one hell of a guy! He was in the first ever Navy Seal group appointed in 1961, he created the original SEAL logo, he was a Casanova to the ladies and he loved Campari and bar culture. I never got a chance to meet Uncle Gary but I feel very privileged being the recipient of his gorgeous tiki bar and it seems fitting that a fancy bar wench like myself have it now. Hope he likes that too. Here is an amazing article about him check it out. ❤️
http://www.shadowspear.com/2016/02/seal-team-one-plank-owner-remembered/