Sarti Cocktails: Your Guide to the Pink Aperitivo

Sarti Rosa is a lively Italian aperitif liqueur with a striking pink color and fresh citrus-led flavour. Ideal for easy home mixing, it works beautifully in spritzes, long drinks, and simple cocktails. Serve it with soda water, tonic, sparkling wine, and with seasonal citrus garnishes.

The pretty aperitif steps into the limelight by bringing a modern Italian vibe to any drink, adding colour, attitude, and effortless mixability to whatever you’re pouring. Its fruity profile also makes it a dream base for Sarti Rosa cocktails that lean into the rising appeal of the UK’s aperitivo moment.

In this article, we’ll walk through what makes this liqueur fun to use, how it tastes, and the easy, good-looking Sarti drink recipes you can shake up at home.

What is Sarti Rosa?

Sarti Rosa is unmistakable with its bright pink glow, citrussy taste, and a personality made for easy, good-looking drinks. Crafted by Casa Luigi Sarti & Figli, the Bologna distillery founded in 1885 and known for its inventive spirit, Sarti Rosa has a modern edge while staying true to the classic Italian aperitif tradition.

At its heart, Sarti Rosa is all about simple mixing and lively flavour. Think spritzes, long drinks, highballs, or light pre-dinner serves when you want something a little different. It slips naturally into aperitivo hour, adding a splash of colour and lift to these early-evening gatherings, while setting the tone for the night ahead.

What does Sarti Rosa taste like?

Sarti Rosa hits the glass with the kind of brightness you expect from an Italian aperitif liqueur, but with a softer, fruitier twist that sets it apart. The first thing you notice is the citrus. That Sicilian blood orange note lands with a lively pop, giving the drink a vivid, sunny feel right from the start.

As you sip, the tropical side steps in. Mango and passion fruit bring a smooth, juicy warmth that rounds out the citrus lift. It feels playful without tipping into sweets territory, which makes it easy to mix into just about anything.

A balanced sweetness runs through it, paired with a subtle touch of sourness keeping every sip balanced. On the nose, you get the same fruity brightness, almost like walking past a market stall piled high with citrus and tropical fruit.

Sarti Rosa feels immediately fun, instantly social, and very easy to love.

How to serve Sarti Rosa

If you’re wondering how to use Sarti Rosa at home, think vibrant and versatile. This aperitif liqueur was made for easy mixing, so you don’t need fancy tools or pro-level skills to create cocktails that look incredible.

Start with the basics. Soda water, tonic water, and sparkling wine are all perfect partners because they lift the citrus and tropical notes without stealing the spotlight. If you like a little extra zip, fresh grapefruit or lemon juice blends beautifully with its bright fruit profile. A quick spritz build is usually all it takes to create a drink that feels ready for golden hour.

For glassware, anything tall and chilled works. Highball glasses, stemmed wine glasses, even a cute vintage tumbler if you want to create a moment. Load it with plenty of ice to keep those fruity notes lively.

Garnishes help the colour pop. Try an orange slice, a raspberry or two, a grapefruit twist, or a sprig of mint for a little extra flair.

As for when to pour it, Sarti Rosa fits in almost anywhere. Brunch with friends, aperitivo hour on the patio, a summer gathering, or those easy weekend hangs where you want something bright and fun without overthinking it. It’s low effort in the best way, and hard to get wrong — exactly why it deserves a permanent spot in your home bar.

Also see: How to Make Aperitivo Cocktails Like an Italian

6 Easy Sarti cocktails to try

1. Sarti Spritz

The Sarti Rosa Spritz brings extra sparkle to aperitivo hour with classic spritz energy but even more personality. Juicy blood orange, tropical mango, and passion fruit hit first, then a citrussy zing keeps things crisp and fun. It’s light, bubbly, and social — designed for golden hour hangs, rooftop catch-ups, or whenever you’re in the mood to for something a little different.

Learn more: Spritz Cocktails: Recipes & Tips

2. Sarti & Soda

Light, bright, and an easy sipper, this is one of the most irresistible pink aperitivo cocktails around. Sarti Rosa’s citrussy, floral notes shine with club soda, giving you a crisp, clean serve perfect for sunny afternoons, casual get-togethers, or your first drink of the night.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Sarti Rosa
• 120 ml Soda water
• Orange slice, for garnish

Method

1. Fill a tall glass with ice
2. Pour in the Sarti Rosa
3. Top with soda water
4. Stir gently
5. Garnish with an orange slice
6. Serve

3. Sarti Grapefruit Cooler

Fresh, citrus-driven with a zesty kick, this long drink lets the Sarti Rosa flavour shine through its grapefruit brightness. The sour-sweet profile of Sarti Rosa pairs beautifully with tart grapefruit, making it ideal for warm-weather gatherings, brunches, or anytime you want a vivid, aromatic cooler.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Sarti Rosa
• 90 ml Fresh grapefruit juice
• 30 ml Fresh lime juice
• 15 ml Sugar syrup
• Soda water, to top
• Grapefruit slice, for garnish

Method

1. Add Sarti Rosa, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sugar syrup to a shaker with ice
2. Shake until well chilled
3. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice
4. Top with soda water
5. Garnish with grapefruit
6. Serve

4. Sarti Berry Smash

This fruity, vibrant Sarti cocktail recipe shows off how beautifully the liqueur blends with fresh summer berries, adding its signature citrus lift to every sip. It’s the kind of easy, colourful drink that instantly brightens a warm afternoon, making it perfect for weekend hangs, sundowners, or any laid-back summertime occasion.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Sarti Rosa
• 20 ml Sugar syrup
• 15 ml Fresh lemon juice
• 4–5 Fresh berries (raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries)
• Soda water
• Fresh berries, for garnish

Method

1. Add the fresh berries and sugar syrup to a shaker and muddle gently
2. Pour in Sarti Rosa and fresh lemon juice
3. Add ice and shake until well chilled
4. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice
5. Top with soda water
6. Garnish with fresh berries
7. Serve

5. Sarti Pink Sour

This silky pink sour combines soft citrus and a hint of sweetness into one beautifully balanced sip. Sarti Rosa adds its signature depth, giving the cocktail a rich, rounded backbone without overpowering the bright sour notes. It’s the perfect pink aperitivo drink for date nights, dinner parties, or any moment that calls for something polished.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Sarti Rosa
• 20 ml Fresh lemon juice
• 15 ml Sugar syrup
• 1 Egg white
• Lemon peel, for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker and dry shake for 10 seconds
2. Add ice and shake until well chilled
3. Strain it into a chilled coupe glass
4. Garnish with lemon peel if desired
5. Serve

6. Sarti Lemon Spritz

Bright, zesty, and lightly bitter, this spritz leans into Sarti Rosa’s floral citrus character and lifts it with a crisp bitter-lemon mixer. It’s an effortless serve, perfect for sunny lunches, relaxed aperitivo hours, or any moment that matches well with chilled aperitivo cocktails.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Sarti Rosa
• 90 ml Bitter lemon
• 60 ml Sparkling wine
• Lemon wheel, for garnish

Method

1. Add ice to a wine glass
2. Pour in the Sarti Rosa
3. Top with bitter lemon mixer and sparkling wine
4. Stir gently
5. Garnish with a lemon wheel
6. Serve

Perfect garnishes for Sarti Rosa cocktails

Sarti Rosa’s gorgeous pink color invites you to play with bright, bold touches that make every drink instantly photo-ready. Think of garnishes as tiny upgrades that bring extra personality to the glass.

Fresh citrus slices are a go-to. Orange or grapefruit adds a juicy pop that matches the liqueur’s citrus lift. If you want something cute and colourful, raspberries or sliced strawberries bring a soft sweetness that pairs beautifully with the tropical notes.

For a little drama, edible flowers look incredible against that pink backdrop. Mint or basil sprigs bring a fresh, aromatic edge that leans into the aperitivo mood. And if you’re into texture, dehydrated citrus wheels give your cocktails that saved-to-Pinterest look.

So mix and match to suit your mood and the moment. Every garnish brings its own spark, and Sarti Rosa pulls it all together with style.

When should you serve Sarti Rosa cocktails?

Sarti Rosa is one of those mixers that fits into your hosting plans with zero fuss. It brings colour and energy that instantly elevates a get-together, whether you’re going all-out with a full spread or just setting the vibe for a laid-back hang.

So when should you serve it? Aperitivo hour is Sarti Rosa’s natural habitat — picture the sun setting, friends pulling up, and those first easy pours setting the tone. Brunch is also a perfect match with light, bright mixes that feel effortless. And summer afternoons? A given. Add plenty of ice and a splash of bubbles. Al fresco hangs and garden parties feel just right with a pink drink in hand.

As the day winds down, Sarti Rosa also shines as a light, pre-dinner opener. Girls’ night? Definitely. Sarti Rosa turns up looking cute every time. Wherever the vibe is social, colourful, or a little celebratory, this drink steps in and makes it feel easy.

Ready to live la dolce vita? Try one of these Sarti mixer ideas, amore! Visit the Sarti Rosa site (opens in new window) to stock up on aperitivo essentials and discover more spritz recipes here. In the meantime, remember to sign up for our delicious newsletter to stay in the mix.