Rubino Shakerato

Although the term Shakerato often refers to the Italian coffee drink made by combining fresh espresso with sugar and shaking it vigorously over ice, it can also be used to describe many other drinks. “Shakerato is the Italian way to describe any drink that is shaken,” says Fabio Raffaelli, North American brand ambassador for Martini & Rossi. “While this can include coffee, alcohol, aperitivi, and more, typically the style of a shakerato creates an intense, yet balanced flavor of the ingredients within the drink.” 

The flavors in a shakerato are hyper blended through the process of shaking, and the ingredients are aerated as the ice hits the sides of the shaker tin. The result? Harmoniously flavored cocktails with a delicious, creamy, and sometimes even frothy consistency. The Rubino Shakerato is an excellent example of this technique. It has citrus notes from herbaceous lemongrass syrup, Cointreau, and Peychaud’s bitters. The drink also calls for fresh lemon juice, which blends especially well with the bittersweet flavors of Martini & Rossi’s Rubino (a Vermouth di Torino), and Cognac. This drink comes together quickly and will become an instant aperitif hour favorite. 

Frequently asked questions:

What is Vermouth di Torino?

Made in Piedmont, a region of northern Italy known for its exceptional red wines like Barolo and Barbera, Vermouth di Torino is a sweet red vermouth made from Italian red wine. It is most often made with Artemesia, a herb that is part of the wormwood family, a key ingredient in vermouth, that is harvested in Piedmont. Vermouth di Torino can range in sweetness depending on the brand but they typically feature flavors like orange peel, caramel, and allspice. Martini & Rossi Rubino is a stunning example of Vermouth di Torino — drink it chilled by itself, in a highball with club soda, or in a cocktail like this one. 

What is VSOP Cognac? 

Cognac is a distilled grape wine, technically a brandy, made in the Cognac region of France. VSOP Cognac (which stands for Very Superior Old Pale) is an expression of cognac which ages for a minimum of four years. VSOP is great on its own but blends well with spirits and mixers in a cocktail like this one. It can add richness and depth to a cocktail and plays well with the bitter notes from the Rubino and Peychaud bitters in the Rubino Shakerato.