Haute Drink: SOLERNO Blood Orange Liqueur

The hottest new drink on the scene right now, SOLERNO Blood Orange Liqueur is named for a sun-soaked city in southern Italy. From Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, also the creator of Hendrick’s Gin, SOLERNO is made in Sicily and embodies the dramatic and decedent flavors of whole-fruit blood orange, red berries, and a hint of bright lemon.

It is built upon a base of neutral spirit with 3 distillates of Sicilian citrus. First, the Sanguinello Blood Oranges are macerated whole and distilled at the peak of their short growing season. Separate distillates of the blood orange peels and Sicilian lemons are added to create the perfect balance of flavors and aromas.

The velvety rich drink with a dry finish can be smoothly sipped straight or used in a variety of cocktails like the Bellini, the Cosmopolitan and the Margarita.

Check out these unique recipes featuring SOLERNO Blood Orange from mixologist and brand ambassador Jackie Patterson.

Solerno Celebration Punch

1 bottle Solerno
1 bottle Lillet Rouge
1 bottle dry, sparkling white wine
16 oz freshly brewed, strong, chai spiced black tea (no cream or sugar added)
8 oz Fever Tree Ginger Beer
8 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
16 dashes Angostura bitters
Over a large block of ice in a punch bowl, pour all of the ingredients and stir to combine. Garnish with thinly sliced orange wheels. Serve in punch cups with a cinnamon stick and small wedge of orange.

Royal Brunch Punch

25 oz double-strength Earl Grey tea
1 bottle Lillet Blanc
1 bottle Hendrick’s Gin
1 bottle Solerno
18 3/4 oz fresh Meyer lemon juice
12 1/2 oz orange marmalade
12 1/2 oz soda water
Brew tea and set aside to cool. Combine all ingredients except soda in a punch bowl over a large block of ice. Add soda water and serve.

Bellapolitan

1 1/2 oz Solerno
1/2 oz Lillet Blanc
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz pomegranate juice
1 1/2 oz Prosecco
2 dashes Bitter Truth orange bitters
Shake all ingredients except Prosecco with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with a lime wheel.

Blood Orange Fizz

1 oz Solerno
1 oz Hendrick’s Gin
½ oz fresh blood orange juice
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
½ oz egg white
1 oz soda water
2 drops orange flower water
Dry shake all ingredients except soda. Hard shake with ice and fine strain into a chilled fizz glass that already has the 1 oz of soda water in the bottom of the glass. Garnish with 2 drops of orange flower water.
Sicilian Cooler

2 oz Solerno
3/4 oz Campari
3/4 oz lemon juice
2-3 oz soda
Shake the Solerno, Campari, and lemon juice on ice and strain into a tall glass filled with ice. Top with soda water and stir to incorporate. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

Spaghetti Western

2 oz Hudson Manhattan Rye
3/4 oz Solerno
1/2 Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir ingredients over ice until well chilled and properly diluted. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a Luxardo Maraschino cherry tucked into and speared onto a fresh orange peel.