Nina Revamps Their Beloved Cocktails for Winter – Yes, Even the Spritz

While walking down Beiluoguxiang you may have noticed that the beloved house of spritz and Cartoccio, Nina, has recently undergone a period of adjustment, a brickening-lite if you will. The bar pre-empted an enforced brickening, and had an elegant picture window installed in the place of their front door. Lucky for us, the layout has allowed Nina to move their main entrance to the side courtyard and business has gone on as usual. Giuseppe Epifanio, one of the owners of Nina, said that the move had actually succeeded in making the place cozier, and that customers are now ordering more food rather than just stopping by for a drink.

Nina has recently presented bar-goers with wintery additions to the menu, including fresh herbs, cinnamon, and plenty of apple cider (who said that winter drinks only mean mulled wine?) While the menu has mostly given a boost to cocktail and wine lists, there are some hearty bites to warm any of the frozen hearts and fingers.

The beauty of Italian finger food is that it is just as tasty as its mains-sized rivals. We opted for a fried mini calzone, which comes in two sizes (smaller one pictured above) and is stuffed with ricotta and tomato sauce, with marinated zucchini, artichokes and other goodies plus plenty of melted cheese. Both meat and vegetarian options are available. 

A few of our favorites drinks on offer include Cardinale (RMB60), Nina's version of a Manhattan. An elegant winter companion with Hendrick's Gin, dry vermouth, and Campari, finished with orange bitters, it leaves a warm aftertaste. It's the perfect before dinner treat, while you wait for the dough to golden up in the oven and need to get a buzz on. 

A more subtle and truly Christmasy cocktail is House Boulevardier (RMB60). Served with a whole cinnamon stick, it smells as delicious as it tastes. Boulevardier uses white pepper, honey, and cinnamon infused bourbon that is made in the house. With its sweet fragrance, we recommend ordering it after dinner, so its full aroma can be appreciated on its own.

If you are a sworn spritz lover in the summer time fear no more, for there now is an winter-edition apple cider spritz. Everyone needs a revamp in their list of favorites once in a while. What's yours?

Four to Try on Red Rose's New Winter Lunch Menu

Images: Tautvile Daugelaite, courtesy of Nina

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Email: tautviledaugelaite@thebeijinger.com