Bellini Cocktail

We're going to get into a nice little history of classic champagne cocktail that is the Bellini in a moment, but before we stuff your brain full of Italian cocktail knowledge, check out these other delicious champagne cocktail recipes: the New Year’s Eve Purple Shimmering Champagne, the Champagne Dreams Cocktail, the Strawberry Citrus Champagne, the Champagne Pink Lemonade, and the Champagne Sunset. OK, now that you have plenty of champagne cocktail recipes from which to choose, here’s what you need to know about the Bellini cocktail’s history: It’s Italian. Bang. Done. That’s it. No wait, just kidding! According to the Bellini cocktail Wiki, “The Bellini was invented sometime between 1934 and 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy.” The Bellini cocktail Wiki goes on to note that “[Cipriani] named the drink the Bellini because its unique pink color reminded him of the toga of a saint in a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini.” Apparently the drink started as a seasonal treat at Harry’s in Venice, and eventually Harry’s sister bar in New York. Once fresh white peach purée was available at both locations consistently (thanks to a Frenchman!!) it became a popular champagne cocktail for any and all times of year. Town & Country did a little more of a deep dive into the historical background of the Bellini and actually read a book! Town & Country says that they turned to Arrigo Cipriani’s “Harry’s Bar: The Life and Times of the Legendary Venice Landmark” for more context on how the drink was created. Oh, and if you're wondering if the author of this book is in any way related to Giuseppe Cipriani, he most certainly is: Arrigo is Giuseppe’s son. (Insert cutest father-son emoji you can possibly think of.) Town & Country notes that the younger Arrigo writes in his book that “The 15th century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini was often mentioned at home,” and that “I [Arrigo] had no idea at the time that the pink glow my father had so admired in one of Bellini's paintings would be the inspiration for his famous cocktail.” And you want to know the best part of this very simple, little, Bellini cocktail history lesson? It’s exactly that! Simple! So many other cocktail recipe histories are so dang confusing. Like the history of the Classic Piña Colada recipe, for example. Or even the Bloody Mary recipe — you don’t even want to know how many people claim that cocktail’s name as their own invention. Anyway, the Classic Bellini Cocktail recipe can be prepared a few different ways. For example, the Bellini Cocktail Wiki notes that “sparkling wines are commonly used in place of Prosecco, though richly flavored French champagne” and that “For a non-alcoholic version[s], sparkling juice or seltzer is used in place of the wine.” If all this talk about the super-delicious Bellini Cocktail recipe has you in the mood for a bunch of other tasty peach cocktails, check out these bad boys: Peach Margarita Shots, Peach & Passion Fruit Bellini, Peach Mango Bellini, Red Wine Peach Bellini, and the Georgia Peach. BELLINI COCKTAIL 2 oz Champagne 3/4 oz Peach Puree Garnish: Peach Slice PREPARATION 1. Pour peach puree into the base of a champagne flute and top with champagne. 2. Garnish with a peach slice. DRINK RESPONSIBLY!