It was back in 2014 when in center of Bologna, a few steps from the two towers, inaugurated Rust, A street bar that would go on to write the history of contemporary mixology in the city. For the research behind the bar, but also and above all for its remarkable ability to build a community, which remains very strong to this day.
The cocktail bar of Richard Vastola and partners, a former bicycle workshop and now a venue with a vintage charm, recently presented its new autumn/winter drinks list, a veritable magazine, over 100 pages long, to be leafed through slowly.
Designed by the partner Davide Patta and from the bar manager Fabio Tammariello in tandem with the bar team composed of “Sasu” Bernardi, Christian Cantone And David Giordano, These “twists on classics” aim to tell stories. “Some elegant, others a little lopsided, like certain toasts made at one in the morning with lifelong friends.” Italian and international stories, true and fictional, which are discovered while sipping minimal and at the same time extremely refined cocktails, as per tradition. Rust. But also the stories of those who made mixology known around the world – Legends – and of the bars in the heart of Ruggine, 11 places to discover in Italy and abroad.
Cocktails are divided into three categories:
- The Essentials, the new 2025/26 signatures,
- Liquid Archive, some classics of Rust,
- and non-alcoholic drinks, three choices that stand out for their originality in their combinations.
To testify the great bond that Rust has tied with the city, all the drinks have been immortalized in iconic locations of Bologna, like the Back Door sneaker shop or the poetic flowery corner “Verde Oliva”, passing through the oldest Bologna's Gamberini coffee shop, up to Protec, one of the city's oldest and most original clothing stores.
Here are some of the choices from the new drink list:
- MERYL STIR: twist on the Negroni Inspired by Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, with Bulldog gin, Campari bitter, Carpano vermouth, Miso & cacao cordial
- CHEESECAKE CLUB: cheesecake-flavored aperitif drink, with Venturo aperitivo, cheesecake cordial, Three Cents fig leaf soda
- GREEN NOTE: a twist on the Bloody Mary in 50's sauce, with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Altos Tequila, Noilly Prat dry basil, “Fake” green tomato
- THE MOOD: coffee-flavored drink without coffee, with Ketel One Vodka, Carpano vermouth coffee sensation, banana
FIZZICH I CAREGin Fizz with Glendalough Wild Gin, Scikenza rosolio, homemade pomegranate kombucha
