What could be better than beautiful summer weather? Beautiful summer weather plus delicious summery cocktails, of course!

We recently caught up with the delightful Alessandro Bonucci of B Espresso Bar in Toronto and asked him for his best inside tips for making fantastic summer cocktails.

ChickAdvisor: Alessandro, what’s important when you’re making cocktails?

Alessandro Bonucci: I love to make simple cocktails that have only three or four ingredients in them. In summer, of course, it’s great to use fresh fruit.

CA: Can you pick your favourite classic Italian cocktail?

AB: One of my favourites is the Americano. It’s a pre-dinner drink that’s very popular in Italy, very simple and refreshing.


Americano
* 1 oz Campari
* 1 oz Sweet Vermouth (red)
* soda water

Chill a highball glass in the freezer. Before pouring in the ingredients, twist a slice of orange into the chilled glass. Add some ice. Rim the glass with orange peel, then add the Campari, Vermouth and soda water.

AB: Another classic is ‘Pink Summer.’

Pink Summer
* 1 egg white
* 1/4oz fresh lime juice
* 1/4oz simple syrup (you can buy this or make it yourself by mixing equal parts sugar and hot water and then chilling the mixture)
* 1 oz Campari
* 1/2oz maraschino cherry juice (Alessandro’s tip: make sure you get the good quality stuff!)
* 1/2oz Grey Goose vodka infused with fresh pineapple (you can make this yourself - just add fresh pineapple to vodka and let it sit for up to two days) or pineapple juice
* fresh mint

Put all the ingredients in a shaker and shake briefly. Add some ice to the shaker and shake hard for 7-8 seconds. Serve in a chilled glass, garnished with a mint leaf.

Alessandro then shared a new watermelon martini he recently invented, in honour of some good friends.

PR808
* fresh watermelon, cut into small chunks
* 4 mint leaves
* 1/4oz fresh lime juice
* 1/4oz simple syrup
* 1/2oz Cointreau
* 1 1/2oz Grey Goose vodka

Put four watermelon pieces in a shaker with the mint leaves, lime juice and simple syrup. Muddle for 5-6 seconds, just enough to bruise the mint. Add some ice cubes, the vodka and Cointreau. Shake for 7-8 seconds. Pour into a chilled martini glass, rimmed with orange peel. Garnish with a little slice of watermelon.

CA: That sounds so good I’m going to have to make one right away. Thanks Alessandro!  

B Espresso Bar’s new location, at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Bloor and Avenue) opens this week in Toronto.

by Jo Rivard

We at ChickAdvisor encourage you to enjoy alcohol responsibly.  Please check with your local authorities for the legal drinking age in your area.