Donizetti

About the Donizetti

The Donizetti pairs Timber Creek Florida Gin with a splash of Champagne, Amaro Ciociaro, and Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot liqueur, stirred and finished with a lemon twist for an elegant, low proof cocktail named after the Italian opera composer. This is a bitter forward drink at its core; amaro brings dried herb and orange peel bitterness while the apricot liqueur softens it with stone fruit sweetness, and the small measure of Champagne adds lift and a faint effervescence that keeps the whole thing from feeling too heavy or dessert like. Timber Creek’s gin, made from a grain to glass base and redistilled with botanicals, contributes juniper and citrus peel structure that gives the drink a spirited backbone underneath all that bitter and fruity complexity, which matters since a weaker gin would let the amaro and apricot liqueur simply take over.

To build it, combine the gin, Amaro Ciociaro, and apricot liqueur in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe and top with the Champagne, finishing with an expressed lemon twist. Some bartenders prefer to build this one directly in the glass and stir gently after adding the sparkling wine, to preserve more of the bubbles, which is a reasonable variation if you want a livelier pour [VERIFY: exact traditional build order for the sparkling component varies by source]. The finished cocktail is aromatic and slightly bitter with a fruity undertone, making it a strong choice as an aperitif or alongside dessert.

It pairs particularly well with tiramisu, biscotti, or dark chocolate, and its orange peel bitterness also complements espresso cake nicely. Because it carries Champagne alongside a full gin pour, it can sneak up on you, so it is worth pacing yourself and treating it as a sipping drink rather than something to rush through.

The Donizetti pairs Timber Creek Florida Gin with a splash of Champagne, Amaro Ciociaro, and Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot liqueur, stirred and finished with a lemon twist for an elegant, low proof cocktail named after the Italian opera composer. This is a bitter forward drink at its core; amaro brings dried herb and orange peel bitterness while the apricot liqueur softens it with stone fruit sweetness, and the small measure of Champagne adds lift and a faint effervescence that keeps the whole thing from feeling too heavy or dessert like. Timber Creek’s gin, made from a grain to glass base and redistilled with botanicals, contributes juniper and citrus peel structure that gives the drink a spirited backbone underneath all that bitter and fruity complexity, which matters since a weaker gin would let the amaro and apricot liqueur simply take over.

To build it, combine the gin, Amaro Ciociaro, and apricot liqueur in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well chilled, then strain into a chilled coupe and top with the Champagne, finishing with an expressed lemon twist. Some bartenders prefer to build this one directly in the glass and stir gently after adding the sparkling wine, to preserve more of the bubbles, which is a reasonable variation if you want a livelier pour [VERIFY: exact traditional build order for the sparkling component varies by source]. The finished cocktail is aromatic and slightly bitter with a fruity undertone, making it a strong choice as an aperitif or alongside dessert.

It pairs particularly well with tiramisu, biscotti, or dark chocolate, and its orange peel bitterness also complements espresso cake nicely. Because it carries Champagne alongside a full gin pour, it can sneak up on you, so it is worth pacing yourself and treating it as a sipping drink rather than something to rush through.