During these hot summer months, the evening is the best time to venture in the city of Cagliari. When the temperature lowers, cafés and restaurants welcome their customers at the tables outside, which fill the narrow and characteristic lanes of the historical district Marina, or in the interiors, rich with history and charm. Spirits Boutique is the favorite corner for all sophisticated drinkers.

As we enter the interior lounge we notice tens of spirits, vermouth, liquors, syrups and juices that fill the area behind the counter, creating a contrast of lights and shadows, shapes and colors.

Among all the different brands of national and international alcoholic drinks, the Macchia spirits also find their place, they’re produced here in Sardinia by Spirits Boutique itself. Indeed we are in the only cocktail bar in Sardinia that sells its own spirits. The options are vermouth, gin and a particular vodka, pane carasau flavored.

As soon as we get to the counter we are offered a welcome cocktail, that changes everyday. Ours was a  Vodkatini prepared with Macchia vodka, pane carasau flavored, vermouth dry Macchia and bitter karasà Macchia drops.

But we went to Spirits Boutique for a precise reason: to try interactive cocktails. The one that we’re interested in the most is “Sharing is caring”: a journey for two. We receive a questionnaire at the table. Our answers brought to life a cocktail that is tailor-made for us, and that we receive in a box with red and blue lights. We got this but the box could contain smoke, cocktail umbrellas or other surprises based on the answers!

Do you know the art piece by Bansky “Balloon Girl”? At Spirits Boutique there’s a different version of it, that’s indeed called “il Banksy” and it’s served like this: an helium balloon tied to the black cherry floating in our cocktail. We suggest eating the black cherry after finishing your cocktail, when it will have absorbed all the aromas. You won’t regret it.

The drink menu is a list of exclusive “signature cocktail”, that features unique combinations and that are selected accordingly with the current season: fruit and colors are summer’s main ingredients. Spirits Boutique’s elegant and polite style is not just about the furnishings but also about the service, the drinks and the way they are presented. We had the proof of this with David, a rum, brandy, Disaronno liquor and fresh juice drink. Why David? “Because it represents the “Renaissance of mixology” we are told by the barman.

Another combination of this summer menu we particularly liked is the slightly spicy Tijuana Mule with tequila, Falernum liquor – almond base with lime and ginger – combined with ginger and a few tabasco drops.

We continue our experience in the cocktails’ world exploring the “mixology”, the art of combining drinks and food. We tried the tagliere di mare, a selection of finger seafood.

A must try is the club sandwich of the house.

Emilio Rocchino is the “orchestra director” of this cocktail bar, he’s a true “liquor’s alchemist” and executive member of the Italian Society of Barman and Supporters (Associazione Italiana Barman e Sostenitori). We leave you with a video showing his passion for the cocktail’s world and for mixology.

Quando si parla di città antiche, quasi tutti pensano subito a Roma. Fondata – secondo la tradizione – nel 753 a.C., la Capitale viene spesso celebrata come la “madre” di tutte le città italiane. Eppure, c’è un angolo di Sardegna che ha una storia ben più antica.

Bisogna viaggiare verso il profondo sud-ovest dell’isola, sull’isola di Sant’Antioco, per scoprire una città che esisteva prima ancora che Roma fosse solo un’idea: l’antica Sulky.

Siamo nel IX secolo avanti Cristo. I Fenici, grandi navigatori e commercianti, scelgono questo lembo di terra proteso nel Mediterraneo per fondare un importante insediamento. Non lo fecero a caso: Sulky era un punto strategico per gli scambi con l’Oriente e rappresentava un approdo sicuro nel cuore del Mare Nostrum.

La prova di questa antichissima presenza? Un’anfora, ritrovata proprio nel comune di Sant’Antioco, e datata con certezza all’800 a.C. Un reperto che parla, che racconta di una città viva, organizzata, già profondamente connessa con il mondo esterno, quando Roma non era ancora stata fondata.

Pensate: mentre sulle coste laziali ancora regnavano il silenzio e le paludi, a Sulky c’erano strade ortogonali, case costruite in pietra e mattoni d’argilla cruda, artigiani all’opera e mercanti che arrivavano da lontano.

E non è solo l’anfora a dircelo. A partire dagli anni ’80, gli archeologi Paolo Bernardini e Carlo Tronchetti hanno scavato nell’area chiamata Cronicario, accanto all’ospizio per anziani, trovando resti che raccontano tre epoche sovrapposte: fenicia, punica e infine romana. Oggetti in terracotta, ceramiche finissime, strutture urbane ben definite: tutto parla di una città che aveva già una sua identità forte secoli prima della nascita della democrazia ateniese.

Insomma, mentre a Roma si dibatteva su quale data scegliere per la sua fondazione (sì, perché anche quella fu una scelta politica!), a Sant’Antioco si commerciava già con Tiro e con Cipro.