One Of New York’s Hottest Restaurants Just Launched A Cocktail Brand
The famous Italian restaurant unveils a new line of bottled cocktails.
Via Carota
In the eight years since opening, Via Carota has acquired the status of a local legend. The stylish trattoria in Manhattan’s West Village was conceived by James Beard Award-winning chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi as an edible love letter to Italy. It’s a cozy neighborhood spot that seems to attract a global audience. One local critic even went so far as to call it New York’s “most perfect restaurant.” And now his talented team of tastemakers hopes to recreate the same level of success in the bottled cocktail space. This week marks the launch of Via Carota Craft Cocktails, a line of ready-to-drink classics that will soon be available in fine liquor stores nationwide.
The initial portfolio consists of six expressions in total, grouped into three “families”: Negronis, with a classic and white variation; Bourbon-based, including an Old Fashioned Manhattan and a signature; and Martini – in both standard and espresso form. Each offering is priced at $40 and housed in gorgeous decanters designed by industry luminaries Stranger & Stranger.
“Our vision with Via Carota Craft Cocktails is to allow people to enjoy the magic of a festive cocktail hour or the warmth of a dinner with friends, wherever life takes them,” according to Bart Silvestro, brand CEO. “Working in the industry, I’ve had a front-row seat to watch the rise of the American palate over the past two decades, from restaurants to wine and beer, and my team and I are energized by the opportunity to elevate also a cocktail occasion.”
The new line of bottled cocktails from Via Carota
Via Carota
To do this, the team had to correct itself. RTDs have been filling the shelves for a few years now, and it’s getting harder and harder to make waves amidst such a glut. Via Carota, however, is no stranger to going out in a crowd. After all, this is an Italian restaurant that gets special recognition in a city known for Italian restaurants. To implement the same sense of separation in the beverage space, the fledgling brand is using spirits and modifiers for its preparations. And the bar team perfected its reports through careful trial and error. By not only developing a satisfying, instantly recognizable flavor profile for each of these classics, but also doing so in a way that they can be bottled with shelf life.
“We’ve been working for years to perfect our recipes in the kitchen and behind the bar,” says co-founder Rita Sodi. We are honored that VCCC can take this inspiration and allow consumers to experience the best craft cocktails, anywhere.”
According to Jody Williams, this is just the beginning. The portfolio is expected to expand to include more flavors before the end of the year, and she hopes these drinks can afford a little taste of Via Carota for fans of the restaurant who live beyond the Five Boroughs.
“We work tirelessly at the restaurant to make our guests enjoy the spirit, culture and emotion put into every bite of food and sip of a drink,” she adds. “Now they can enjoy it in bottles”
Via Carota co-founders chefs Jody Williams (left) and Rita Sodi
Via Carota
