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Who Couldn’t Use A Good Smooch

Bacio
Lemon Spritz
Italian lemon & bubbly white wine cocktail
7% ABV
Eco-friendly
Produced & packaged at Cantine Sgarzi Luigi (Fidenza, Parma, Italy)
Born in New York
Founders: Diego Faccioli & Tadas Nikulin

First, follow the directions on the can and “just chill it” then crack, pour, and it reveals a lovely yellow hue with some tiny bubbles & a tad of greenish starlight twinkle. Scents drift up of lemon & grated citrus zest (also reminds me a bit of Limoncello too), a squeeze of lime, and a dash of nose tickling seltzer. Sipping and there’s again lemons & one of my faves a touch of Lemonhead candy, lime squish, a mellow sweetness but not too sweet, mineral rock lick that balances all with a pinch of salt, and that zippy spritz feeling. It’s fresh, crisp, vibrant, and rocking it out of the park.

Pairs with Cheez-Its:  Surprisingly really damn good

Yes, I’ve written about this fun & flirty spritz before, but revisiting now because I sure could use a bit of its spark. As my friend Diego says, “Bacio combines Italy’s winemaking legacy with modern sophistication. Our sparkling wines are a fusion of tradition and innovation, presented in eco-friendly elegance. It’s not just wine; it’s a reimagined experience of Italian luxury.” Just think, all of that magic is consistently packed into these little cans. Close your eyes, sip, and it whisks you away to visions of Veneto, and smacks you with a big smooch (bet all of y’all need one just like I do right now) that will melt away all of the day’s stress. 🇮🇹🍋💋😘

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #cannedcocktails #instawine #catsofinstagram #pairswithcheezits #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Italy #newyork #apertivotime #worldbyglass #SpritzLovers #bacchanalwines #Bacio #Baciolife #docwinebar #docwineshop

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A Kiss To & From Italy

Bacio
Lemon Spritz
Italian lemon & bubbly white wine cocktail
7% ABV
Eco-friendly
Produced & packaged at Cantine Sgarzi Luigi (Fidenza, Parma, Italy)
Born in New York
Founders: Diego Faccioli & Tadas Nikulin

First, follow the directions on the can and “just chill it” then crack, pour, and it reveals a lovely yellow hue with some tiny bubbles & a tad of greenish starlight twinkle. Scents drift up of lemon & grated citrus zest (also reminds me a bit of Limoncello too), a squeeze of lime, and a dash of nose tickling seltzer. Sipping and there’s again lemons & one of my faves a touch of Lemonhead candy, lime squish, a mellow sweetness but not too sweet, mineral rock lick that balances all with a pinch of salt, and that zippy spritz feeling. It’s fresh, crisp, vibrant, and rocking it out of the park.

Pairs with Cheez-Its:  Surprisingly really damn good.

Faccioli & Nikulin bring their Veneto inspired vibe in such a fab portable way that also keeps with their goal of quality. As Diego says, “Bacio combines Italy’s winemaking legacy with modern sophistication. Our sparkling wines are a fusion of tradition and innovation, presented in eco-friendly elegance. It’s not just wine; it’s a reimagined experience of Italian luxury.” BTW do you need a tour guide to Italy? Let Bacio show you the way through their journey. They’ll lead you through wines, cities & the people that live there & a peek into their traditions, where to grab a bite & imbibe, special recipes, festivals, sights not to miss, and you’ll also learn that Diego not only has a mischievous smile…he also has a “sonorous snore” 💤🤣. Anyway, grab a can and feel that flirtatious 💋 from Italy because the country & this spritz are both so easy to love.

Side note: My little shadow or maybe not so little anymore (José Andrés) decided he needed to be included in the pic. He’s such a ham.

wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #cannedcocktails #instawine #catsofinstagram #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #Italy #newyork #apertivotime #worldbyglass #SpritzLovers #bacchanalwines #Bacio #Baciolife #docwinebar #docwineshop

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Going To Italy Via Brooklyn

St. Agrestis
Spritz
St. Agrestis Inferno Bitter, house-made Torino style vermouth & Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin
12% ABV
Brooklyn (Greenpoint), NY
Louis & Matt Catizone, Steven DeAngelo

Dark amber pour with peachy pink active bubbles. Scents float up of tomato plants & leaves, fir, alpine herbs, hyssop, juniper, singed orange/tangerine & other citrus rind, and as opens orange blossoms. Sipping and it’s all of the above with a good bitter bite, anise, the edible center of a peach pit, almonds and all of it mellows out the longer I linger. Takes me back to an old memory of gliding out onto the pond on a summer night watching the stars twinkle like this drink sparkles.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: surprisingly good, mellow & kinda like a touch of RC Cola

Well, I have to give St. Agrestis’ a 10 for being both delicious & fun! It transports me to Italy for Aperitivo time, or if you want to find an authentic one in Brooklyn, head to DOC Wine Bar for cocktails and a snack. Anyway, the tale of how these bottle came into creation, stems from that same longing for the real Italian deal. Louis & Matt grew up in an Italian family (in NJ) that kept traditions of their heritage, and one of these really makes me smile. Their folks sent them to school with not the dull PBJs many of the other kids were stuck with in their brown paper bags, but they got a true treat of “soppressatta on Nonnina’s freshly baked pane with a small bitter Italian soda”. Oh, what I wouldn’t have given in grade school to have that after recess. Cheers to Louis, Matt & Steven for keeping it lively, modern, chic and real in Brooklyn.🥂

#cocktails #spritztime #aperitivotime #cocktailsofinstagram #smallbusiness #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #aperitivo #friyay #weekend #weekendvibes #worldbyglass #greenpoint #brooklyn #docwinebar #docwineshop #stagrestis @cheezit @docwinebarny @docwineshop

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Recipes Run In The Family

Social Hour Cocktails
Prizefighter
Ragtime Rye Whiskey, Massenez Crème de Pêche, Faccia Brutto Fernet Pianta
11.5% ABV
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Pineapple gold with a good thick white head at first pour which leads to vibrant scents of whiskey, herbal bitters, a little Ricola, and a pineapple and peach smash. First crisp sip and my tastebuds are greeted by whiskey with a mellow butterscotch, pear, lovely white peaches, a little dried pineapple, a tiny cola, mild bitters and a shake of white pepper that balances everything. This is damn good! Oh and I have this one on the rocks, but hey if you’re lacking a glass just kick it back straight from the can. Heading to a family holiday party? Stash a few of these in your bag…especially if it’s a full on “Griswold” happening (Squirrel!!!!).

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it really doesn’t do much and that’s a good thing

This is my second cocktail from Social Hour Cocktails and yeah, they totally brought their “A game”. The more of these canned goodies I try, I think I may have to branch out from the usual Cheez snack and take it up a notch. From what I’m reading, the Macy family was all in for their “Social Hours”. Tom’s father even created the perfect snacks to pair (John Wm. Macy’s Cheese Sticks). He whipped up the recipe in the 70s in CA before making his way to NYC and baking them from his EV walk-up apartment. Looks like delicious, fun, and portable creations run in the Macy family.

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #Aperitivo #holidayparty #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #RagtimeRye #facciabrutto #JohnWmMacys @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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What We Sip in the Shadows

Social Hour Cocktails
Strawberry Rhubarb Spritz
Faccia Brutto Aperitivo bitters, strawberry rhubarb cordial, and white wine
8.7% ABV
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Shining pale strawberry cocktail blush. Pour on the rocks. Nose tickling strawberries, rhubarb, and herbal aromatic bitters. Here goes the sip and it’s sweet at first and full of berries and rhubarb pie filling, then out pops herby bitters in the back, orange peel, and a small bite of red Twizzlers. Fresh, crisp and a fun party you can take on the go, or just kick back at home and binge watch “What We Do in the Shadows”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg ack

Y’all know I’ve had a soft spot for these pre-made cocktails during the lockdown, and now I can’t give them up. Julie Reiner & Tom Macy both come from lauded bartending and bar owning backgrounds and took a huge and smart leap into the canned cocktails market in the summer of 2020. They want what you have at home to be as good as what they’d concoct for you in person. It’s also pretty special that they work with New York products, like this spritz’s Brooklyn born “Faccia Brutto aperitivo”. Cheers to supporting local!

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #Aperitivo #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #FacciaBrutto @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit