I Tried the New Bottled Sparkling Cocktails from One of Taylor Swift’s Favorite NYC Restaurants — And I’ll Be Sipping Them All Summer
I recently spent a month exploring southern Italy, and although I returned to New York City in early May, my mind was still thousands of miles away. I missed the beauty of the medieval towns, the buildings awash in faded ochres and pastel pinks, the trees blooming with colorful flowers or scented with lemons and oranges … but most of all, I missed taking time out to just relax over an aperitivo. On the island of Ischia, I’d often head down to the port at sunset and sip an Aperol spritz while watching the boats sail by. In other towns, I’d sit in the piazzas and try local specialties, like Procida’s spritz al Foglioli, an herbaceous, slightly bitter twist on limoncello using lemon leaves. But once I got settled back in the States, those la dolce vita days came to an end — until I discovered Via Carota’s new sparkling cocktail range.
Via Carota’s Sparkling Cocktails
What Is the Via Carota Sparkling Range?
If you haven’t already heard, Via Carota is one of New York City’s hottest restaurants. It’s a favorite of A-list celebs including Taylor Swift, who has dined there on multiple occasions. Snagging a reservation is next to impossible, but thankfully Via Carota launched a line of bottled signature cocktails last year as well as a new Sparkling Range so that everyone could get a little taste of the Italian hotspot. The new collection, which dropped in May, is made up of individual-sized servings of bubbly beverages, including a classic Spritz and Paloma, plus fizzy versions of a Negroni Sbagliato, White Negroni, and French 75. The ready-to-drink cocktails, which can be served chilled or over ice, are sold in packs of 10 (you can stick to one flavor or choose a variety pack) for $69. And trust me, the price is worth it for the gorgeous glass bottles alone.
Why I Love the Via Carota Sparkling Range
After getting my hands on a variety pack of Via Carota’s Sparkling Range, I decided to re-create my Italian aperitivo experience right in my own backyard — or, rather, on my building’s rooftop. On one of the first warm days in the middle of May, I headed up to the roof with a chilled bottle of Spritz, a glass of ice, and some Castelveltrano olives and taralli crackers to snack on. And I have to say, it took me right back to Italy. It was nice to just sit and relax with a refreshing drink and take in the city view, above all the noise.
My rooftop aperitivo hour has since become somewhat of a ritual on warm weekends, whether I’m unwinding by myself with a Paloma or socializing with friends over fizzy Negronis. Via Carota’s sparkling cocktails taste like they were crafted by a master mixologist, and I’ll definitely be drinking them all summer long. Or at least until my next trip to Italy.
Shop the entire collection here.
