This Italicus cocktail contains the exotic flavours of bergamot and camomile. It may look like a classic gin sour cocktail, but the flavours are sure to surprise, delight and seriously impress.
Use the homemade dehydrated lemon slices to garnish other drinks such as a limoncello martini or a limoncello spritz.
Why this cocktail is worth making
- Quite simply, how often do you get to enjoy flavours such as bergamot and camomile other than in tea? Bergamot, in particular, sounds adventurous, mysterious and somewhat out of reach for the average person. Yet here are both flavours in cocktail form.
- This Italicus cocktail really does bring plenty of excitement to the table. It's a libation that could, looks-wise, easily be mistaken for a straight gin sour, so go ahead and impress unsuspecting guests with a completely unexpected flavour profile.
- The dehydrated lemon wheels, pictured here too, make a very elegant adornment to this extraordinary cocktail, giving it a visual wow-factor. I've included details to make these, but they are optional.
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When it comes to ordering cocktails in bars I'll always be swayed by intriguing flavours and ingredients that I've not come across before. This habit often leads to me expand my collection of spirits and liqueurs but it also means I get the chance to be creative with these new ingredients at home. That's exactly how this Italicus cocktail came to be.
I first ran into Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto a few years ago at a cocktail bar in London. It's hard to miss because it comes in a particularly noticeable aqua coloured bottle. Naturally, I was desperate to try it.
I'm pleased to be presenting this Italicus cocktail for several reasons. It's not only beautiful to look at, smell and taste, but it also offers an introduction to a lesser-known but exceedingly charming liqueur. Oh and I've always wanted to come up with a camomile cocktail too. Bonus!
If you like elegant sour cocktails don't miss my blueberry sour or my Aperol sour. They are both rather special and smartly garnished.
What is Italicus?
According to the bartender who mixed my first Italicus cocktail, it is a citrussy drink originating from Italy. Well, he wasn't wrong. But there's more to Italicus than just citrus. Here are a few facts:
- Italicus is a rosolio: This is a relatively light Italian liqueur (ABV 20%) often served as an aperitif.
- Star ingredient: It is flavoured with bergamot (a citrus fruit native to southern Italy) which, incidentally, is also a key flavour in Earl Grey tea. So if the smell seems vaguely familiar, perhaps this is why.
- Other botanicals: Also in the mix is camomile, lavender, rose petals, aromatic herbs and gentian root.
- Taste: expect ripe citrus and a slight bitterness underlying the sweetness of this liqueur.
- How to serve Italicus: It is often served neat, over ice or used to replace the Aperol in a spritz cocktail.
Ingredients notes
There is no substitute for Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto and although it is hard to spot in stores, luckily, it's easy to purchase online.
The camomile syrup is homemade but is very quick and simple to prepare. It can be made using either tea bags or dried camomile flowers.
A dry gin is the best type of gin to use in this recipe. Avoid any flavoured gins at all costs when making this recipe.
Step by step instructions
Full instructions and measurements are given in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
1. Pour freshly boiled water into a pan containing the tea and let steep
2. Remove the tea, add sugar and heat to dissolve. Chill until required
3. Pour all cocktail ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice) for 30 seconds
4. Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds
5. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel (or spirals of orange or lemon zest) and serve
How to make dehydrated lemon wheels
Dehydrated lemon wheels (or any citrus wheels) make fantastic garnishes for drinks, cakes and tarts or just for decorating your house at Christmas-time. They are incredibly easy to make:
- Thinly slice 1 or 2 lemons (¼cm thick) and lay them onto an oven-proof wire rack suspended over a baking sheet
- Bake at 50C/ 100F (or your oven's lowest setting) for 5-6 hours, turning every 90 minutes, until completely dried out
- Let cool completely then store in a sealable glass jar for up to 1 month
Don't miss the short video near the top of this post to see them being made.
Expert tips
- Make the camomile syrup the day before to get ahead if desired - it stays fresh for up to 3 weeks
- The flavour profile of this Italicus cocktail means that most gins, especially London dry gins - be them citrussy, floral or herbaceous - should work well
- Perhaps avoid using more bespoke gins such as Old Tom or Genever
- And definitely do not use fruit flavoured gins (e.g blackberry, rhubarb etc...) in this recipe. It will up-skittle the balance of flavours in both the cocktail and the fruity gin
- After the dry shake take a taste of the drink and add a little more syrup if it is too sour for your tastes
- If using dehydrated lemon wheels for garnish note that they do need to bake at a very low temperature for around 6 hours, so make them in advance
- Alternatively, use spirals of lemon zest or a few dried camomile flowers to garnish the drink instead
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. In fact, using loose camomile tea will result in a purer camomile flavour. Make the syrup using 1 heaped teaspoon of dried camomile flowers.
Egg white is a common cocktail ingredient useful for 2 reasons. First of all, it creates that striking foamy top that is so handy for balancing garnishes on. However, it's also included to add a velvety texture to the drink itself. If you're yet to be convinced just give it a go - I promise that your drink will not taste eggy.
Yes, this is a great way to turn this drink vegan and keep the foamy top. It's perfectly acceptable to just leave the egg white out if you don't happen to have aquafaba to hand though.
More sour cocktail recipes to try
If you have tried this bergamot and camomile cocktail please give it a rating or comment. I love to hear how you get along with my creations.
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📖 Recipe
Italicus Cocktail - A Bergamot and Camomile Gin Sour
Ingredients
For the Camomile Syrup
- 100 ml Water
- 75 g White sugar
- 1 Camomile tea bag or 1 heaped teaspoon dried camomile flowers
For the Italicus Cocktail
- 80 ml Gin London Dry
- 40 ml Italicus
- 60 ml Lemon juice
- 40 ml Camomile syrup
- 1 Egg white approx 30g
For the Dehydrated Lemon Wheels
- 1-2 Lemons
Instructions
Make the Syrup
- Pour freshly boiled water into a pan containing the tea and let steep for 5-10 minutes
- Either remove the teabag or, if using loose tea, strain through a sieve. Add sugar and heat to dissolve, then let cool
- Decant into a bottle and keep refrigerated for up to 3 weeks
Make The Cocktail
- Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice) for 30 seconds
- Add ice and shake for another 30 seconds
- Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel (or spirals of orange or lemon zest) and serve
Make Dehydrated Lemon Wheels
- Thinly slice 1 or 2 lemons (¼cm thick) and lay them onto an oven-proof wire rack suspended over a baking sheet
- Bake at 60C/ 120F for 5-6 hours (turning over every 90 minutes) until completely dried out
- Set aside to cool then store in a sealable glass jar for up to 1 month
Notes
- Make the camomile syrup the day before to get ahead if desired - it stays fresh for up to 3 weeks
- The flavour profile of this Italicus cocktail means that most gins, especially London dry gins - be them citrussy, floral or herbaceous - should work well
- Perhaps avoid using more bespoke gins such as Old Tom or Genever
- And definitely do not use fruit flavoured gins (e.g blackberry, rhubarb etc...) in this recipe. It will up-skittle the balance of flavours in both the cocktail and the fruity gin
- After the dry shake take a taste of the drink and add a little more syrup if it is too sour for your tastes
- If using dehydrated lemon wheels for garnish note that they do need to bake at a very low temperature for around 6 hours, so make them in advance
- Alternatively, use spirals of lemon zest or a few dried camomile flowers to garnish the drink instead
Ann says
Not sure that I will get an answer in time, but I would like to make this for New Year's Eve 2025 (two days from now). For those who don't drink, and I will have a couple at the party, I would like to serve an NA version. Any suggestions for substitutions?
Jane Coupland says
Hi Ann, I hope I'm in time for you to stock up.... you could try replacing the gin with a non-alcoholic spirit such as Seedlip. The Italicus liqueur is harder to replicate though - I've not tried it but you could add a dash of orange blossom water plus some non-alcoholic white vermouth. Alternatively, go with a slightly different drink altogether that makes use of the camomile syrup created: Pour use 25ml syrup and 15ml lemon juice into a large wine glass, pour in 120ml Nosecco, then 40ml soda water and then add lots of ice for a spritz-style drink. I hope these suggestions help.
Chris says
This drink knocked my socks off in its deliciousness. I am definitely going to serve this to friends.
Jane Saunders says
Thankyou so much for your kind review - you have lucky friends 🙂
Ashly says
This drink was both complex and refreshing. I used Roku Gin as that's my favorite and it paired perfectly with the other flavors. Thanks for such a great recipe.
Jane Coupland says
Ashly thankyou so much - it's a little gem. Roku is a wonderful gin - I'm out of it right now, so a little envious of you 😉