Renowned gelateria Piccolina has joined forces with Victorian distillery Four Pillars to release a range of boozy granitas* for a never-ending summer.
The pairing takes this traditional shaved ice dessert from nostalgic childhood treat to a refreshing adults-only summer indulgence with the addition of Victorian craft gin and some grown-up flavour profiles.
When Piccolina approached the Four Pillars team, they leapt at the concept. “The idea simply sounded delicious! And if you’ve ever had gelato from Piccolina you’ll know it is world class. So, this was always going to be a winner in our mind,” said Cam Mackenzie, co-founder and distiller at Four Pillars.
Piccolina owner and founder Sandra Foti worked with James Irvine, Creative Director, Gin Drinks from Four Pillars to design the menu.
“When it came to designing the menu, we wanted to create something really fun, summery and Four Pillars-y. We’ve gone with some of our favourite cocktails paired with our favourite gins,” said James Irvine.
Once the flavours were decided, the Piccolina team developed the recipes, each based on a classic cocktail and featuring a different Four Pillars gin.
The Southside Granita is a frozen twist on the classic citrus-forward cocktail and embodies summer in a cup. It features Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, plenty of fresh lime and a bit of sweetness to round out the palate.
Taking the complexity up a notch, but still with some very strong summer vibes, is the Singapore Sling Granita. Along with the classic flavours of pineapple and lime, Piccolina’s version swaps the cherry liqueur for pomegranate juice and a hit of Cointreau to complement the flavours of the Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin.
Finally, you couldn’t create a gin-based menu without the inclusion of a Negroni Granita. Using Four Pillars Spiced Negroni Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, the Piccolina team use fresh orange juice to take this flavour profile from tipple to refreshing dessert.
Sandra Foti said: “We’re excited to welcome Melburnians to our new Swan Street store with this amazing new collaboration. We’re all about taking nostalgic elements, whether that’s gelato or a classic cocktail, and updating the concept and creating a new experience that above all else, is simply delicious.
“We’re so lucky to be a part of Melbourne’s hospitality community. It’s amazing how open and supportive everyone is – and this collaboration is no exception.”
Piccolina Gelateria
85 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Open 7 days a week, Noon–late
Open 364 days; Closed Christmas Day
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*Available exclusively at Piccolina’s new Swan Street store from 10 March 2021 for six weeks only.
Images: Kristoffer Paulsen