The phrase ‘Artisan’ has by no means been extra related than in Venice. A metropolis with a historical past of high-craftsmanship, treasured merchandise and inimitable type. It’s by these arts, crafts and traditions that ‘Le Serenissima’ comes alive, and nonetheless seen inside workshops, boutiques, eating places, cafés and bars, all curating an ‘expertise’ and ‘style’ of ‘La Dolce Vita’.
Exploring town by the lens of its craftspeople, is to hyperlink with the previous, current, and future. Including to the roll-call of artisans is Valentina Mircea, an award-winning mixologist, bringing her new and seasonal cocktail menu to the lofty heights of the ‘Skyline Rooftop Bar’ on the Hilton Molino Stucky – Giudecca Island, because the lodge’s first ever feminine Bar Manageress.
As the very best bar in Venice, ‘Skyline’ boasts an inspiring vista stretching from Canale Giudecca to Piazza San Marco, because the solar units over the domes, bell towers and ochre-coloured roof tops. It’s a metropolis establishment, which can look like inspiration sufficient to design cocktails, however Valentina is taking issues ‘back-to-the future’.
Utilizing repurposed components to design distinctive cocktails, while respecting the previous classics and even harnessing the digital world alongside the way in which, helps her curate what she calls her ‘Voyage’ – a journey by the flavours which signify Venice.
The ‘Artisan Negroni’ is one cocktail which encapsulates Valentina’s ethos and options prominently on the bars winter menu; utilizing equal measures of Sospiri Gin, Campari, Rabitt Premium Bitter and Bottega Vermouth and completed with a Campari-Caviar garnish, it not solely champions native components, however respects the ‘traditional’ historical past of the drink, together with her personal visionary interpretation.
As I chew into the dehydrated fruit slice topped with caviar, it explodes within the mouth with a ‘Caspian pop’ earlier than washing-it-down with a sip of the warming amber liquid, which gives a powerful, bitter and spicy end. This matches the early night vibes, while looking-out upon a Venetian winter solar, setting on one of many world’s nice cityscapes.
“Our Negroni is only a contact away from a traditional, however with the introduction of regionally sourced and exquisite merchandise, it’s a mix and expertise solely present in Skyline” she feedback.
The menu describes every cocktail in three phrases, which immediately matches the visitor’s palate to their ideally suited drink. One other innovation is seeing your cocktail ready just about through a QR Code on the menu, a part of this new-world theatrics, which mixes with the previous. All very intelligent!
Each summer season and winter menus carefully match. One of many summer season’s top-selling cocktails ‘Stucky Bloom’, is a twist on the enduring Gimlet evoking the botanical wonders of town utilizing the lodge’s personal Stucky 1985 Venice Gardens Gin. It has now morphed into the ‘Stucky Storm’ which embraces a bit of bit extra ginger giving it a a lot deeper interpretation of the identical cocktail.
Delicate adjustments with the revolutionary introduction of components, is the ‘magic’ which Valentina typically refers to. The ‘Crystal Martina’ is now a ‘Glacial Martini’ reflecting the luxurious and magnificence of the lagoon. There’s a story to be informed behind every creation; ‘207 Sky’ is a easy, fragrant mix of Amaro Locale, Italicus and Skyline’s selfmade Agrumi Liqueur. In truth Amaro Locale 207, received ‘World’s Greatest Bitters’ on the World Liqueur Awards 2024 and held their launch occasion in Skyline.
Central to Valentina’s ideology is ‘Sustainability’, sourcing native merchandise and fascinating the local people alongside her visitors. Examples of repurposing surplus components embody utilizing espresso grinds from the lodge’s ‘Rialto Restaurant’. This kinds the central ingredient to an in-house Espresso Liqueur, used to create their particular person tackle the ever-popular ‘Expresso Martini’.
“For each bottle of Prosecco and Champagne that goes flat, we add a contact of pisco, vodka, sugar, mint and magic and we create our personal Home Vermouth” Valentina provides. The brand new tangy tropical fruit cocktail Umami, options refreshing mango foam and mango juice from the entire fruit to make sure nothing is wasted.
Her ardour for her work, extends to her staff and past. Valentina feels she is enjoying her half for feminine empowerment inside a job she nonetheless feels is skewed in direction of males. Therefore, she is organising an all-female bartender’s membership from March 2025 by corralling a rising variety of feminine bartenders in Venice.
Equally, she has set-up month-to-month masterclasses for her bar staff, which is able to deepen everybody’s data of varied manufacturers. Valentina has solely been in Venice since February 2024 and has already created two seasonal menus which replicate the essence of Venice, while participating native producers and communities and developed sustainable and inclusive initiatives. She will not be solely inspiring her staff, however seeking to encourage feminine bartenders throughout Venice.
So, like her cocktails, it’s simple to explain Valentina in three phrases – Artisanal, Empowering and Trendsetting – now that may be a cocktail which ought to swimsuit each palate!
