shane eaton 7/22/25 shane eaton 7/22/25

Igiea Terrazza Bar Palermo

A Toast to Sicilian Influence: The New 'Sicily Around the World' Cocktail Experience

Igiea Terrazza Bar is nestled within the historic Art Nouveau Villa Igiea in Palermo, where the ambiance reflects the island’s rich and storied past. The bar’s timeless architecture and sweeping views of the Gulf of Palermo create the perfect setting for a sensory journey inspired by the recently launched Sicily around the World — a cocktail menu featuring ten signature creations that blend international influences with Sicilian heritage.

This new menu was crafted by Salvatore Calabrese, Nicola Loiacono, and the talented team at Igiea Terrazza Bar as a tribute to the cultural legacy of Sicilian expatriates who carried the island’s spirit across the globe. The essence of Sicily has long shaped both the culinary and cultural landscapes of countries around the world — from the UK and the United States to Japan, Argentina, Tunisia, and Brazil.

For example, the cocktail Perpetuum presents a marriage between the UK and Sicily, with the alcoholic base provided by Benriach The Twenty One Scotch Whisky and the Marsala Florio Aegusa 2001 produced by the noble Florio family, founders of Villa Igiea. Together with Campari Cask Tales and bergamot spray, Perpetuum is a robust and smoky drink with rich fruity notes and a bitter, aromatic finish.

Sicilians have explored much of the world but even outer space. Stella di Luca celebrates Luca Parmitano, the first Italian to walk in space and command the International Space Station. This creamy and nutty concoction features bourbon, Frangelico, almond and pistachio milk, activated carbon, egg white, glitter powder and white truffle caviar.

A highlight of the menu is the Tiger Rag cocktail, a tribute to Sicilian-American musician Nick LaRocca, whose work left a lasting mark on American culture—particularly during the Prohibition era. LaRocca, who inherited his musical passion from his father, fused Sicilian musical roots with the emerging jazz scene of New Orleans. In 1917, he composed "Tiger Rag," now recognized as one of the most iconic jazz pieces in history and a staple in the speakeasies of that time. The Tiger Rag cocktail reflects this rich heritage with a bold blend of bourbon, Amaro Averna Riserva Tributo Siciliano, Vermouth del Professore Rosso, and a touch of jasmine essence. The ingredients are prebatched and aged for two months in an oak barrel, developing depth and complexity. To serve, 100 ml of the aged mixture is poured into a mixing glass, stirred, and then strained into a Nick & Nora glass. A smoke garnish, delivered via a Flavour Blaster, evokes the hazy ambiance of 1920s speakeasies—an atmospheric finishing touch to this storied drink.

Open daily, Igiea Terrazza Bar provides the perfect setting to unwind with an aperitivo while taking in panoramic views of the Gulf of Palermo. After raising a glass to Sicilian excellence with the signature Sicily in the World cocktails, guests can continue their evening at Villa Igiea with a memorable dining experience at the acclaimed Florio Restaurant, curated by Chef Fulvio Pierangelini.

Il lusso di bere Sicilia: l’esperienza cocktail “Sicily Around the World’ a Villa Igiea

Nel cuore di Palermo, incastonata tra le suggestioni Liberty di Villa Igiea e le vedute mozzafiato sul Golfo, nasce una nuova esperienza sensoriale che fonde sapientemente memoria, mixology e spirito internazionale. Si chiama Sicily Around the World la nuova drink list firmata Igiea Terrazza Bar: dieci cocktail iconici, creati per raccontare — sorso dopo sorso — l’influenza globale della cultura siciliana.

Il concept nasce dalla mente creativa di Salvatore Calabrese, figura leggendaria nel mondo della mixology, in collaborazione con Nicola Loiacono e il team dell’Igiea Terrazza Bar. L’idea è tanto ambiziosa quanto evocativa: rendere omaggio agli emigrati siciliani che hanno portato con sé i sapori, i profumi e l’identità dell’isola, contribuendo a plasmare la scena culturale e gastronomica di Paesi lontani come Regno Unito, Stati Uniti, Giappone, Argentina, Tunisia e Brasile.

Tra le creazioni più rappresentative spicca Perpetuum, un ponte ideale tra la Scozia e la Sicilia. Al palato, l’intensità del Benriach The Twenty One Scotch Whisky si fonde con la profondità del Marsala Florio Aegusa 2001, etichetta di pregio della storica famiglia Florio, fondatrice di Villa Igiea. A completare l’opera, Campari Cask Tales, uno spray di bergamotto e una struttura aromatica affumicata, complessa, vibrante.

Ma lo sguardo siciliano si spinge oltre ogni confine — persino spaziale. L’innovativo “Stella di Luca” rende omaggio all’astronauta Luca Parmitano, primo italiano a passeggiare nello spazio e a guidare la Stazione Spaziale Internazionale. Il cocktail è un viaggio interstellare tra sapori morbidi e decisi: bourbon, Frangelico, latte di mandorla e pistacchio, carbone attivo, albume, polvere glitterata e caviale al tartufo bianco. Una celebrazione dell’audacia e dell’ingegno italiani.

Imperdibile anche “Tiger Rag”, tributo a Nick LaRocca, musicista italoamericano originario della Sicilia, pioniere del jazz neworleansiano e autore nel 1917 dell’omonimo brano, oggi considerato uno dei capisaldi del genere. Il drink, intenso e strutturato, unisce bourbon, Amaro Averna Riserva Tributo Siciliano, Vermouth del Professore Rosso e un tocco di essenza di gelsomino. Dopo due mesi di affinamento in botte di rovere, viene servito in un bicchiere Nick & Nora accompagnato da una nuvola di fumo, generata sul momento con un Flavour Blaster — un raffinato tributo all’atmosfera clandestina e audace degli speakeasy dell’era del Proibizionismo.

Aperto ogni giorno, l’Igiea Terrazza Bar è più di una cocktail lounge: è un luogo dell’anima, dove il tempo si ferma e i sapori raccontano storie. E per chi desidera proseguire il viaggio sensoriale, la serata può continuare presso il rinomato Ristorante Florio, dimora culinaria dello chef Fulvio Pierangelini, dove l’eleganza dell’alta cucina si fonde con l’essenza autentica della tradizione siciliana.

shane eaton 3/16/25 shane eaton 3/16/25

1930 2.0

1930, the inspiration behind this blog, has changed locations.

The change of address marks the beginning of a new chapter, but without going against the original philosophy of the exclusive venue: to wow its guests with a charming and intimate atmosphere and memorable cocktail experiences. 1930 has moved to the basement of another venue in the group, Mag La Pusterla, in Via Edmondo de Amicis, conveniently close to the M4 metro line. Walking down the stairs, 1930 reveals itself once again as an unexpected discovery with vaulted brick ceilings and soft lighting, that will remind guests of its original location at Via Sottocorno 19. The new menu is called 1930 À La Carte and combines mixology with haute cuisine. Taking the structure of a typical restaurant menu, the menu offers appetizers, first courses, second courses and desserts.

From the Antipasti, don't miss the Hummus with chickpeas, smoked paprika and Irish whiskey. From the Primi, try the comfort drink “Tortellini in brodo” (shown below) a twist on the Boulevardier with tortellini that are cooked in a Milano-Torino and served with hot chicken broth and nutmeg-infused whiskey. From the Secondi, a must is the Pizza Marinara, a drink so good that even a Pizza chef from Naples would appreciate it.

1930 remains an exclusive bar even if the address is no longer a mystery. Only the 193 original members of 1930 have the right to make a reservation while all other guests can try their luck by first grabbing a seat at Mag La Pusterla.