Cappelletti Smash
A muddled lemon smash built on a wine-based aperitivo rather than a spirit
Ingredients
- 2 ozAperitivo CappellettiThe base spirit here, not a modifierSubstitute: Another wine-based red aperitivo
- 1/2 wholeLemonHalf a lemon, muddled rind and all
- 2 tspSugarGranulated, muddled into the lemon firstSubstitute: Simple syrup, though it dilutes further
Instructions
- Muddle half a lemon with 2 tsp sugar in a shaker
No ice yet; muddle at room temperature so the sugar dissolves
- Add 2 oz Aperitivo Cappelletti and ice, then shake
- Pour unstrained into a rocks glass
Serve on the shaking ice; it keeps the drink cold
- Garnish with a sprig of mint
Technique Notes
Muddle the lemon half rind and all, not just the juice. The oil in the peel is what carries the sugar into a low-proof drink; press the flesh alone and the sweetness sits on top with nothing to hold it.
Why the Cappelletti Smash Works
Most smashes are built on whiskey or gin and the sugar is there to soften the proof. Here the base is seventeen percent and vinous, so the sugar has a different job: it gives the lemon something to hold onto in a drink with almost no spirit weight of its own.