Prosecchini: The Sparkling Cocktail That's Taking Over Happy Hour

If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen those gorgeous, fizzy drinks that look like a cross between a martini and a glass of champagne. That’s a prosecchini, and it’s quickly becoming the drink of choice for people who want something a little more interesting than a basic spritz but don’t want to overthink their cocktail order.

The prosecchini is exactly what it sounds like: a mashup of prosecco and martini. It takes the sophisticated, boozy punch of a classic martini and lightens it up with Italy’s favorite sparkling wine. The result is a drink that feels fancy without being fussy, and it’s perfect for pretty much any occasion where you want to look like you have your life together.

What Exactly Is a Prosecchini?

At its core, a prosecchini is a simple cocktail. You start with the basic ingredients of a martini (gin or vodka and dry vermouth), but instead of serving it straight up in a traditional martini glass, you top it off with prosecco. Some bartenders add a splash of elderflower liqueur or a twist of citrus to give it extra personality.

The magic of this drink is in the bubbles. The prosecco adds a lightness and effervescence that makes the cocktail feel less intense than a straight martini. It’s still got that sophisticated edge, but it’s more approachable, especially if you’re not usually a martini person.

Think of it this way: if a martini is a black-tie event, a prosecchini is a cocktail party where you can wear that outfit you’ve been dying to try. It’s got the elegance, but with a much more relaxed vibe.

The Rise of Prosecco Cocktails

Prosecco has been having a moment for a while now. It’s become the go-to sparkling wine for people who want something celebratory without the hefty price tag of champagne. It’s versatile, it’s affordable, and it pairs well with just about everything.

The prosecchini is part of a larger trend of prosecco-based cocktails that have taken over bars and restaurants in recent years. Aperol spritzes opened the door, showing everyone that Italian sparklers could be the foundation for seriously good mixed drinks. From there, bartenders started experimenting, and the prosecchini emerged as one of the standout creations.

What makes prosecco such a great cocktail ingredient? A few things:

It’s not too sweet: Unlike some other sparkling wines, prosecco has a dry, crisp profile that works well with spirits
The bubbles are gentle: Prosecco has softer carbonation than champagne, which makes it easier to mix without losing the fizz
It’s fruit-forward: Prosecco typically has notes of apple, pear, and white peach that complement citrus and botanical flavors
The price is right: You can use a good prosecco without breaking the bank, which makes it perfect for home bartending

How to Make the Perfect Prosecchini at Home

Making a prosecchini is surprisingly straightforward. You don’t need a fully stocked bar or any fancy equipment. Here’s what you need to know.

Basic Prosecchini Recipe

Ingredients:

1.5 oz gin (or vodka if you prefer)
0.5 oz dry vermouth
2-3 oz prosecco
Ice
Lemon twist or olive for garnish

Instructions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
Add the gin and vermouth
Shake well for about 10-15 seconds until cold
Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass
Top with prosecco
Garnish with a lemon twist or olive

The key is to not overshake. You want the gin and vermouth well-chilled, but you’re not making a thick, frothy drink. Gentle but thorough is the way to go.

Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can start playing around. Here are some popular twists:

Variation	What Makes It Different	Best For
Elderflower Prosecchini	Add 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur	People who like floral, slightly sweet drinks
Grapefruit Prosecchini	Use grapefruit peel and a splash of grapefruit juice	Brunch or day drinking
Dirty Prosecchini	Add a bar spoon of olive brine	Savory drink lovers
Lavender Prosecchini	Infuse gin with lavender or add lavender bitters	Special occasions
Cucumber Prosecchini	Muddle cucumber before adding spirits	Hot summer days

Choosing the Right Prosecco

Not all proseccos are created equal, especially when you’re using it in cocktails. You don’t need to buy the most expensive bottle on the shelf, but you also don’t want the cheapest option that tastes like fizzy white wine.

Look for prosecco labeled “brut” or “extra dry.” Despite the name, extra dry is actually slightly sweeter than brut, so if you want a crisper cocktail, go for brut. For a prosecchini, you want something that won’t overpower the other ingredients but still has enough character to shine through.

Good mid-range proseccos to look for:

La Marca
Mionetto
Riondo
Bisol
Zonin

These are all solid choices that won’t cost you more than $15-20 a bottle, and they’ll do the job perfectly in a cocktail.

When to Serve a Prosecchini

The beauty of the prosecchini is that it’s appropriate for basically any situation where you’d serve cocktails. It’s fancy enough for a dinner party but casual enough for a random Tuesday evening.

Perfect occasions for prosecchini:

Pre-dinner drinks (it’s light enough that it won’t fill you up)
Brunch (the bubbles make it feel festive)
Engagement parties or showers (it’s celebratory but not cliché)
Date nights at home (it shows you put in effort)
Book club or girls’ night (it’s Instagram-worthy)

The drink also works year-round, which is a bonus. In summer, the prosecco makes it refreshing. In winter, the gin gives it enough warmth to feel appropriate even when it’s cold outside.

The Social Media Effect

Let’s be honest: part of the prosecchini’s popularity comes from how good it looks in photos. The drink has a natural elegance that translates well to social media. The bubbles catch the light, the glass looks sophisticated, and if you add a colorful garnish, you’ve got yourself a very shareable moment.

This isn’t a bad thing. If you’ve been following the phenomenon of influencers gone wild, you know that social media has a huge impact on food and drink trends. The prosecchini hit at exactly the right time, when people were looking for drinks that felt special but weren’t overly complicated to make or explain.

Tips for Serving Prosecchini at a Party

If you’re planning to serve prosecchinis to a group, here are some strategies to make your life easier:

Pre-batch the base: Mix the gin and vermouth ahead of time in the ratio you want, then keep it chilled. When guests arrive, you just shake the base with ice, strain, and top with prosecco.

Keep prosecco cold: Have extra bottles in the fridge or in an ice bucket. Warm prosecco loses its bubbles quickly and tastes flat.

Offer garnish options: Set out lemon twists, olives, and maybe some fresh herbs so people can customize their drinks.

Use good ice: Large, clear ice cubes melt slower and won’t water down the drink as much during shaking.

Chill your glasses: Pop your coupe or martini glasses in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before serving. This keeps the drink colder longer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even though the prosecchini is a simple drink, there are a few pitfalls that can mess it up:

Mistake #1: Using flat prosecco. Once a bottle is open, prosecco starts losing carbonation. Use a good wine stopper and drink the bottle within a day or two of opening.

Mistake #2: Over-measuring the vermouth. Too much vermouth makes the drink bitter and overwhelming. Stick to the ratios or even go a little lighter if you’re not sure.

Mistake #3: Adding the prosecco too early. Don’t shake the prosecco with the other ingredients. Always add it at the end, after you’ve strained the drink into the glass.

Mistake #4: Skipping the chill. This drink needs to be cold. If your ingredients aren’t properly chilled and you don’t shake with enough ice, you’ll end up with a lukewarm disappointment.

The Future of the Prosecchini

Like any trendy drink, the prosecchini will probably evolve. We’re already seeing bartenders experiment with different base spirits, using aged gin or even sake in place of traditional options. Some places are adding housemade syrups or unusual bitters to create signature versions.

But the core concept is solid enough that this drink isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It hits that sweet spot of being easy to make, sophisticated to drink, and flexible enough to adapt to different tastes and occasions.

Whether you’re a cocktail enthusiast looking for your next favorite drink or someone who just wants something better than wine for your next gathering, the prosecchini is worth trying. It’s proof that sometimes the best innovations come from taking two classic things and combining them in a way that makes perfect sense.

So grab a bottle of prosecco, dust off your cocktail shaker, and give it a try. Your next happy hour just got a whole lot more interesting.