The perfect frozen drink

An Italian classic that deserves another look

I know a thing or two about frozen drinks.

For years we’ve offered a frozen Gin & Tonic at Leon’s that consistently ranks among our most sold items. It is a fan favorite and is also ridiculously easy to make at home, though you will need a bottle of Jack Rudy Tonic.

The Frozen G&T at Leon’s.

On a recent trip to NYC, we visited Bar Pisellino an unhealthy amount. In the morning we’d have a coffee as we watched the West Village come alive, and in the afternoons for a little snack, or a pre-dinner drink to stimulate the appetites. It is, after all, precisely what the place was designed for as an all-day Italian cafe.

The cocktail list is succinct, a move I always appreciate, and a sign that a place knows what they do, and they do it well. It’s a murderer’s row of Italian classics (think Negroni, Americano, Sbagliato) in addition to an oft overlooked option: the Sgroppino.