ARTISANAL COCKTAILS GO 'BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE' IN VENICE

The word ‘Artisan’ has never been more relevant than in Venice. A city with a history of high-craftsmanship, precious products and inimitable style. It is through these arts, crafts and traditions that ‘Le Serenissima’ comes alive, and still visible within workshops, boutiques, restaurants, cafés and bars, all curating an ‘experience’ and ‘taste’ of ‘La Dolce Vita’.

Exploring the city through the lens of its craftspeople, is to link with the past, present, and future. The gondoliers navigate the canals courtesy of the Venetian ‘Remeri’ wood-craftsmen who carve the oars and rowlocks (fórcole). Behind countless shop display-windows of Murano glass, Venetian masks and delicate lace, jewellery, perfume and leather goods, stands a new-generation of designers adding their stamp and contemporary twist on centuries-old traditions.

Adding 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’ at the Hilton Molino Stucky - Giudecca Island, as the hotel’s first ever female Bar Manageress.

As the highest bar in Venice, ‘Skyline’ boasts an inspiring vista stretching from Canale Giudecca across to Piazza San Marco, reminiscent of a 'Caneleto' painting offering a daily interplay of light and shade, as the sun sets over the domes, bell towers and ochre-coloured roof tops. This may seem motivation enough to design cocktails, but Valentina is taking things ‘back-to-the future’.

Using repurposed ingredients to design unique cocktails, whilst respecting the old-classics and even harnessing the digital landscape along the way, is helping her curate what she calls her ‘Voyage’ - a journey through the flavours which represent Venice.

Valentina’s passion for her work shines through in each and every cocktail she designs, and even stated “I often joke with my team that if you cut me open, I bleed Negroni” as it remains one of her all-time favourite and therefore, one I had to try.

The ‘Artisan Negroni’ is one cocktail which encapsulates Valentina’s ethos and features prominently on the bars winter menu; using equal measures of Sospiri Gin, Campari, Rabitt Premium Bitter, Bottega Vermouth and finished with Campari caviar garnish, it not only champions local ingredients, but respects the ‘classic’ history of the drink, but with her own visionary interpretation.

As I bite into the dehydrated fruit slice topped with caviar, it explodes in the mouth with a ‘Caspian pop’ before I wash-it-down with a sip of the warming amber liquid, which provides a strong, bitter and spicy finish. “Our Negroni is just a touch away from the classic, but with the introduction of locally sourced and beautiful products, it’s a combination and experience which can only found in Skyline” says Valentina.

The menu describes each cocktail in three words, which instantly indicates to guests, which drink might suit their palate. Also, one does not even need to tear themselves away from the view, to watch the theatre of seeing the mixologist prepare the cocktail. I simply pointed my smartphone at the QR Code on the menu and witnessed it being prepared 'virtually' by the bartender. All very clever!

Both summer and winter menus closely match. One of the summer’s top-selling cocktails ‘Stucky Bloom’, is a twist on the iconic Gimlet evoking the botanical wonders of the city using the hotel’s own Stucky 1985 Venice Gardens Gin. It has now evolved into a wintery ‘Stucky Storm’ which embraces a little bit more ginger, giving it a much deeper interpretation of the same cocktail.

Subtle changes with the innovative introduction of ingredients, is the ‘magic’ which Valentina often refers to. The ‘Crystal Martina’ is now a ‘Glacial Martini’ reflecting the luxury and elegance of the lagoon. There is a story to be told behind each creation; '207 Sky', is a smooth, aromatic blend of Amaro Locale, Italicus and Skyline’s homemade Agrumi Liqueur. In fact Amaro Locale 207, won the ‘World’s Best Bitters’ at the World Liqueur Awards 2024 and held their launch event in Skyline. The enticing menu list has many more options, one that deserves several return visits.

Central to Valentina’s ideology is ‘sustainability’; sourcing local products and engaging with the local community, whilst inspiring and satiating the expectations of international guests. Examples of repurposing surplus ingredients, include the use of coffee grinds from the hotel’s ‘Rialto Restaurant’. This forms the central ingredient to an in-house coffee liqueur, used to create Skyline's individual take on the ever-popular ‘Expresso Martini’. Even the new and tangy tropical fruit cocktail 'Umami', features refreshing mango foam and mango juice from the whole fruit, to ensure nothing is wasted.

“For every bottle of Prosecco and Champagne that goes flat, we add a touch of pisco, vodka, sugar, mint and magic, and we create our own House Vermouth" she adds. 

Her passion for her work, extends to her team and beyond the hotel. Valentina feels she is playing her part for female empowerment, within a role that is still male dominated. Hence, she is setting up an all-female bartender’s club from March 2025, by corralling a growing number of female bartenders in and around Venice.

Similarly, she has set-up monthly masterclasses for her bar team, which will deepen everyone's knowledge of various brands. This is accompanied by regular testing of all her staff, on both the bar's signature and classic cocktails, to ensure that the guest experience is at the same high-level every time.

Valentina has only been in Venice since February 2024 and has already created two seasonal menus which reflect the essence of the city, whilst navigating a delicate balance between local producers, the surrounding communities and the many overseas guests who pass through. This is all driven by sustainable and inclusive initiatives, meaning this is one bar to watch. 

So, like her cocktails, it is easy to describe Valentina in three words – Artisanal, Empowering and Trendsetting – now that is a cocktail which should suit every palate!

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Make the most of your time in Venice, with a 'Venezia Unica City Pass', an ideal way to organise your visit, offering access to public transportation and to many tourist attractions and cultural events.