Michael JordanMwith Johnson, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal… I great names of the golden era dell’Nbathe hugely popular American professional basketball league, are back as protagonists in Milano. Not on a parquet, this time, but… in one drink list. Specifically, the new drink list launched a few days ago by Gramm Cafè, cocktail bar on the Naviglio Grande well known to mixology enthusiasts and beyond. Which, for the occasion, has revolutionized not so much its approach to mixing, always based on research and culture of the great classics, but the way of presenting its drinks, focusing precisely on the myths of American basketball.
The NBA stars in the new Gramm Cafè drink list
Gramm Cafè, NBA stars to communicate mixology
«The Navigli area is not an ‘easy’ area: lots of nightlife, many tourists, but cocktail enthusiasts represent only a small part of the clientele» he explains Niccolò Mazzucchellico-owner of Gramm with his brother Giacomo and his wife Eda Akman. “As, to draw attention to the fact that cocktail does not necessarily mean Spritz – he continues – we decided to create a drink list on a theme ‘super pop‘ e as captivating as the NBA e his characters from the 90strue global stars. The idea worked: already in the first days, the new list received an excellent reception from the public.” Three of the new cocktails are named after Chicago Bulls playersthe most representative franchise of those years (Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman) and then there are Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Nove drink (all offered at 11 euros) contemporaries (“no disco drinks, the reference to the 90s is only in the main theme of the list” specifies Mazzucchelli) and easy to drinkbetween signature and twist on classic. Three of which can also be requested in a non-alcoholic version.
The interior of Gramm Cafè in Milan
As well as the chosen theme, the graphics and contents of the menu are also designed to capture the attention of the “generalist” and increasingly international public that crowds the Navigli restaurants: behind the colorful cover (on which basketball fans will have fun recognizing the unforgettable faces of many NBA legends), each cocktail is presented in an essential way, clear and immediateeven if only in English, accompanied by the image of the player from whom it takes its name. «In order not to disorientate the customer who does not have particular knowledge of cocktails and spirits – continues the co-owner and bar manager – we have included only the strictly necessary information, easily understandable even by those who are not familiar with English: for each drink there are the basic ingredients, tasting notes and glass are indicated. And if anyone has doubts or wants to know more, the staff is able to delve into every detail.”
Gramm Cafè: research and classic cocktails
Ease of drinking and simplicity of presentation do not mean banality in preparation, far from it. Just look at the recipes of some of the most requested cocktails at the debut of the new list, characterized by refined ingredients and complex techniques. Like the Karl Malone, a clarified variant of the Espresso Martini (very popular drink especially among English-speaking customers) based on a fat wash of gin with coffee oil and Frangelico, or the Dennis Rodman, Paloma twist with peach liqueur, honey syrup and verjus (also available without alcohol), or even the Patrick Ewing, interpretation of the classic Gin Tonic with palo santo, grapefruit, basil and spirulina. And like the Michael Jordanof which we show the preparation at the bottom of this article.
Obviously mixing “historical” also finds space in this menu, which on the last page contains a selection of the most requested classics (10-12 euros, with the exception of Spritz and mocktails, at 9 euros), but every request “off the list” is satisfied. To top it all off, one choice of wines and beersincluding the Golden Ale from the Livorno craft brewery Clandestino. For the aperitif, the drinks arrive accompanied by olives, peanuts, breadsticks and taralli.
Gramm Cafè’s bottled Spritz
But that’s not all. Among Gramm’s recent novelties there is one that is off the menu, also ready to leave the walls of the restaurant on the Naviglio: il Gramm Spritz. Mazzucchelli explains: «The Spritz has always been in great demand, to the point that its preparation had become a little too repetitive. So we decided to propose an alternative, more refined version, with 20 ml of mandarin liqueur, 20 ml of home-made clarified basil cordial, 20 ml of orange syrup and a top of soda and prosecco. We sell it for 6 euros, less than the classic Spritz.” And above all, thanks to the collaboration with Tripstillery, Gramm Spritz will soon also be available as a ready-to-drink in a 70 cl bottle. «Customers will be able to buy it in the restaurant and take it home, even if the first reason that pushed us to start this operation was the need to standardize production and reduce service times and costs of this drink. At a later stage we could also offer it in travel formats, ideal for foreign tourists.”
The Gramm Café in brief
Inaugurated in July 2018 by brothers Giacomo and Niccolò Mazzuchelli with the wife of the latter, Eda Akmanthe Gramm Cafè immediately conquered a very important space in the Milanese night scene. Behind the counter today is Niccolò himself, born in ’86: he moved from Carrara to Milan to study interior architecture, after specializing in restaurant and bar design, he left his job to follow his passion for mixing, studying self-taught with his wife Eda.
Gramm Café: Niccolò Mazzuchelli and Eda Akman
Even if it’s not a secret bar, Entering Gramm is like stepping back into the years of Prohibitionamong recycled objects and vintage furnishing elements: gramophone, mirrors, photographs, colored hot air balloons that surround the wooden counter and characterize the atmosphere of the two elegant internal rooms, 30 seats to which are added around sixty in the outdoor area. A welcoming and intimate place, where you can stop at any time of the day, every day from 8 in the morning to 2 at night, for breakfast, a break or an aperitif/post-dinner with friends.
The Michael Jordan recipe from Gramm Café
Ingredients:
- 30 ml green cordial
- 10 ml strawberry osmosis
- 30 ml Altamura earl gray infusion
- 30 ml Altamura strawberry infusion
- Wash with whole milk & white chocolate (1/4 ratio)
Garnish: leftover strawberry from osmosis dried
