How it tastes
Bitter Campari and bitter coffee in the same mouthful, but they don't fight each other. The white vermouth keeps the drink from feeling too dense. The grapefruit bitters add a high citrus note that lifts the whole thing. People who order this drink the first time often expect it to taste like a coffee Negroni. It doesn't. It tastes like a Negroni that drank an espresso. Different drink.
Why we built it
The Italian Job came out of an experiment a few years ago when we were trying to use up a bottle of Mexican-style spiced chocolate coffee that didn't have an obvious home. Pairing it with Campari turned out to be the unlock. The grapefruit bitters were a later addition that made the drink feel less heavy. It's now one of the most-ordered cocktails on quiet Tuesday evenings, when guests want something a little more interesting than a Negroni but still in the same neighbourhood. More on coffee in cocktails here.
Where to drink it
On request at Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya. We brew the spiced coffee fresh in the morning and chill it for the evening pour. Reserve a table for the easiest seat.