12 Must-Try Grappa Cocktails

A novel twist on a classic, this Grappa Fashioned cocktail swaps whiskey for aged grappa and vermouth for Marsala wine. Notably, aged grappa is much smoother and more complex than the traditional unaged, clear grappa. In addition, these ingredients offer the same flavor profile as the traditional Old Fashioned duo. Moreover, the angostura bitters and black tea create an extra dry finish.

This utterly refreshing lemon, mint, and cucumber grappa cocktail make a pitcher’s worth of aromatic, tart, and bright green drinks. It requires you to make lemon mint and cucumber ice cubes by blending the ingredients with a bit of water and freezing it in ice trays. The soda water adds a fizzy finish.

Grappa is a fiery and spicy brandy that tastes like tequila, so there’s no better substitute to use in an Italian twist on the Mexican margarita than grappa. This Grapparita takes the Italian twist a step further by substituting lime juice with the delicious Italian lemon liqueur called Limoncello. The piece de resistance is egg white to add a frothy head. 

This Italian Limoncello cocktail adds an earthy, herby element by providing a base of muddled simple syrup, basil, and mint. It offers a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and aromatic. The recipe makes a single cocktail, but you can easily scale it up to make a pitcher for your next dinner party.

The Gimlet is a classic gin and lime cordial cocktail. This recipe adds grappa to the mix. The rose-infused lime juice and gin create an almost medicinal flavor, but the addition of grappa sweetens things up and packs a fiery finish. This is a sophisticated cocktail that will impress any gin lover.

Another twist on an Italian classic, the Grappa Negroni swaps gin for grappa, adding a spicy flavor to pair with bitter Campari and sweet vermouth. Grappas vary in flavor depending on the pomace used. This recipe specifies a certain grappa bottle with a full body to stand up to the strong flavors of the other two ingredients.

A Paper Plane cocktail is one of the classic cocktails invented at the turn of the 20th century consisting of Amaro, Aperol, lemon juice, and bourbon. Bourbon is a smokey, complex spirit that adds depth to this tart, bitter mixed drink. You can use aged grappa instead of or in addition to bourbon for a richer, slightly sweeter twist on a classic. 

Chamomile has a distinct floral flavor that we usually associate with a hot cup of tea before bed. This comforting cocktail uses chamomile-infused grappa and wildflower honey mixed with a bit of lemon juice for an elegant, floral flavor. To add aesthetic and texture, you stir in egg white to create a top layer of foam.

An IBA official cocktail, the Ve.n.to is a grappa cocktail made with chamomile liqueur, honey, and lemon juice. It also calls for an egg white to create a frothy head. Served in a tall-stemmed cocktail glass, the VE.N.TO cocktail is garnished with white grapes and a spiral of lemon peel.

In Italy, one of the most common ways to drink grappa is with espresso. This Grappino cocktail embellishes the classic espresso and grappa pairing by adding Amaretto and soy cream. There’s no more decadent dessert cocktail than the Grappino. The sweet, almondy Amaretto and cream soften the strong duo of grappa and espresso. 

Another grappa twist on a margarita, this Sarparita uses two types of grappa, Sarpa Oro and Uvaviva. Sarpa Oro is a young grappa with a similar fiery, alcohol-forward flavor to tequila. Both grappas blend with lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup to create an Italian margarita with a unique strawberry finish from the Uvaviva.

A Grappa-inspired take on the classic gin drink, Tom Collins, Luli Collins changes gin for a combination of Luli Moscato and Grappa. The sweet Moscato and alcohol-forward grappa blend with lemon cordial and orange bitters for a deliciously crisp bitter citrus cocktail. The lemon cordial adds much-needed sweetness to balance the bitters.