Nicholas Wyatt is general manager of Ravello Ristorante, an Amalfi Coast-inspired restaurant in Montgomery, AL.
Drawing inspiration from the classic Negroni Sbagliato that has made a viral comeback thanks to House of the Dragon star, Emma D’Arcy, and from America’s original flapper and Montgomery native, Zelda Fitzgerald, I created a variation of the beloved drink and garnished it with local stories and style.
Ravello’s Sips of Paradise is a nod to Bits of Paradise, a collection of short stories by Zelda Fitzgerald, and her (almost) equally famous husband, F. Scott. In addition to Zelda’s upbringing in Alabama’s capital city, the literary couple lived in Montgomery from 1931 to 1932 in the historic Old Cloverdale neighborhood and wrote portions of their respective novels, Tender is the Night and Save Me the Waltz.
Inspired by the city’s local legends, my elegant twist on the Italian classic combines Aperol, Nonino L’Aperitivo and Scarpetta prosecco — Ravello’s by-the-glass prosecco offering — and is set off by the deep crimson garnish of a dehydrated blood-orange wheel. Balanced and refreshing, its glamour pairs well with Ravello’s elegantly renovated 1920s bank building, delivering a stunning cocktail experience.
Sips of Paradise
Ingredients
- 1 oz. Carpano dry vermouth
- ½ oz. Aperol
- ½ oz. Nonino L’Aperitivo
- Scarpetta prosecco
- Dehydrated blood-orange wheel
Instructions
- Build the drink in a rocks glass.
- Add the vermouth, Aperol and Nonino into the glass
- Fill with ice and give a short stir.
- Top with prosecco.
- Garnish with the orange wheel.
