Surprise your guests with this refreshing after-dinner cocktail at your next summer party.

Those of you familiar with grappa, the Italian pomace brandy made from the leftovers (skin, seeds, and stems) of grapes from of winemaking, might be a bit surprised now. Is grappa not supposed to be enjoyed need after a meal, as classic digestive?

Well, that’s how grappa is defined.

On the other hand, serving grappa alongside espresso (or mixed into it) is a long tradition in Italy. And with the recent cocktail boom, bartenders around the world are looking for new, innovative cocktails or repurpose classics with a twist. And they increasingly turn to digestifs.  

Of course, these cocktails should be served after a meal as they would still aid digestion. They are just more fun than turning to a simple (read: neat) amaro, bitter, or brandy.

If you are still not convinced, even Italy’s oldest grappa distillery Distilleria Nardini is firmly behind this trend. Proof to this is the wide range of cocktails mixed with grappa on the brand’s website.

Today, I’d like to introduce one of these after-dinner cocktails from the Nardini website to you.

The refreshing Grapparinha resembles the popular Caipirinha originating from Brazil. Unlike the Caipirinha which you can enjoy as aperitif and digestif, the Grapparinha is a typical after-dinner cocktail.

Why you will love this drink

If you are looking for an after-dinner drink on a warm summer night, the Grapparinha is made for you. It’s refreshing and easy to make, and the lime and brown sugar syrup creates a distinctive sweet-tart flavour profile reminiscent of a truly Caribbean feeling.

How to make a Grapparinha Cocktail

This super simply after-dinner cocktail is mixed in few minutes, although you need to prepare the brown sugar syrup in advance.

Serves 1

50 ml white grappa
15 ml brown sugar syrup
1 fresh lime
1 or more slices of lime to garnish
Mint leaves to garnish

First, prepare the brown sugar combining equal parts of brown sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat and continue cooking until the sugar is completely dissolved (about 2-3 minutes). Set aside to completely cool down.

Cut one lime into small wedges. In an old fashioned or similar glass, gently muddle the wedges with the syrup, using a pestle.

Add grappa and gently stir.

Fill the glass with ice and stir again.

Garnish with a lime wedge and a bunch of mint leaves.

Enjoy! It’s delicious.