The word ‘Artisan’ has never been more relevant than in Venice. A city with a history of high-craftsmanship, precious products and inimitable style. It is through these arts, crafts and traditions that ‘Le Serenissima’ comes alive, and still visible within workshops, boutiques, restaurants, cafés and bars, all curating an ‘experience’ and ‘taste’ of ‘La Dolce Vita’.

Exploring the city through the lens of its craftspeople, is to link with the past, present, and future. Adding to the roll-call of artisans is Valentina Mircea, an award-winning mixologist, bringing her new and seasonal cocktail menu to the lofty heights of the ‘Skyline Rooftop Bar’ at the Hilton Molino Stucky – Giudecca Island, as the hotel’s first ever female Bar Manageress.

As the highest bar in Venice, ‘Skyline’ boasts an inspiring vista stretching from Canale Giudecca to Piazza San Marco, as the sun sets over the domes, bell towers and ochre-coloured roof tops. It is a city institution, which may seem like inspiration enough to design cocktails, but Valentina is taking things ‘back-to-the future’.

Using repurposed ingredients to design unique cocktails, whilst respecting the old classics and even harnessing the digital world along the way, is helping her curate what she calls her ‘Voyage’ – a journey through the flavours which represent Venice.

The ‘Artisan Negroni’ is one cocktail which encapsulates Valentina’s ethos and features prominently on the bars winter menu; using equal measures of Sospiri Gin, Campari, Rabitt Premium Bitter and Bottega Vermouth and finished with a Campari-Caviar garnish, it not only champions local ingredients, but respects the ‘classic’ history of the drink, with her own visionary interpretation.

As I bite into the dehydrated fruit slice topped with caviar, it explodes in the mouth with a ‘Caspian pop’ before washing-it-down with a sip of the warming amber liquid, which provides a strong, bitter and spicy finish. This matches the early evening vibes, whilst looking-out upon a Venetian winter sun, setting on one of the world’s great cityscapes.

“Our Negroni is just a touch away from a classic, but with the introduction of locally sourced and beautiful products, it’s a combination and experience only found in Skyline” she comments.

The menu describes each cocktail in three words, which instantly matches the guest’s palate to their ideal drink. Another innovation is seeing your cocktail prepared virtually via a QR Code on the menu, part of this new-world theatrics, which mixes with the old. All very clever!

Both summer and winter menus closely match. One of the summer’s top-selling cocktails ‘Stucky Bloom’, is a twist on the iconic Gimlet evoking the botanical wonders of the city using the hotel’s own Stucky 1985 Venice Gardens Gin. It has now morphed into the ‘Stucky Storm’ which embraces a little bit more ginger giving it a much deeper interpretation of the same cocktail.

Subtle changes with the innovative introduction of ingredients, is the ‘magic’ which Valentina often refers to. The ‘Crystal Martina’ is now a ‘Glacial Martini’ reflecting the luxury and elegance of the lagoon. There is a story to be told behind each creation; ‘207 Sky’ is a smooth, aromatic blend of Amaro Locale, Italicus and Skyline’s homemade Agrumi Liqueur. In fact Amaro Locale 207, won ‘World’s Best Bitters’ at the World Liqueur Awards 2024 and held their launch event in Skyline.

Central to Valentina’s ideology is ‘Sustainability’, sourcing local products and engaging the local community alongside her guests. Examples of repurposing surplus ingredients include using coffee grinds from the hotel’s ‘Rialto Restaurant’. This forms the central ingredient to an in-house Coffee Liqueur, used to create their individual take on the ever-popular ‘Expresso Martini’.

“For every bottle of Prosecco and Champagne that goes flat, we add a touch of pisco, vodka, sugar, mint and magic and we create our own House Vermouth” Valentina adds. The new tangy tropical fruit cocktail Umami, features refreshing mango foam and mango juice from the whole fruit to ensure nothing is wasted.

Her passion for her work, extends to her team and beyond. Valentina feels she is playing her part for female empowerment within a role she still feels is skewed towards men. Hence, she is setting up an all-female bartender’s club from March 2025 by corralling a growing number of female bartenders in Venice.

Similarly, she has set-up monthly masterclasses for her bar team, which will deepen everyone’s knowledge of various brands. Valentina has only been in Venice since February 2024 and has already created two seasonal menus which reflect the essence of Venice, whilst engaging local producers and communities and developed sustainable and inclusive initiatives. She is not only inspiring her team, but looking to inspire female bartenders across Venice.

So, like her cocktails, it is easy to describe Valentina in three words – Artisanal, Empowering and Trendsetting – now that is a cocktail which should suit every palate!