The notion of Italianate cocktails tends to conjure images of aperitivo classics—Negronis and spritzes accompanied by olives, prosciutto and crostini. The drink that comes to mind is likely not a steaming hot mixture of espresso and rum. But in Livorno, a seaside Tuscan town, order the local punch—ponce alla Livornese—and that’s exactly what you’ll get.
Unlike traditional punch, the 17th century proto-cocktail comprising some combination of spirits, sugar, citrus and tea, Livorno Punch—espresso, sugar, lemon peel and rum—spotlights coffee in lieu of tea making it right at home alongside Italy's native caffè corretto.
