The Spumoni looks, tastes, and drinks like a classic Italian aperitivo cocktail – but it’s actually Japanese! We heard about it through the charming Bartender anime, where it was briefly mentioned as a drink popular with women. In fact, it began life as a canned drink from the Suntory company. Though it was quickly discontinued, it lived on as a menu staple at Japanese bars and izakayas.
We’re big fans of this version from PUNCH magazine, who adapted it from a more complex version with peppercorn syrup served at Bar Pisellino in New York. To get your grapefruit juice as fluffy as Bar Pisellino’s, you could toss it in a kitchen blender and blend on high speed to introduce some airy volume.
Campari is the standard bitter citrus apéritif for a Spumoni, but any other red bitter would do – including Aperol, if you don’t mind the additional sweetness.
