Freni e Frizioni "Inked: The Liquid Tattoo"

Freni e Frizioni, celebrating its 20th anniversary, stands as one of Rome's most iconic and internationally acclaimed bars. It's considered a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the Eternal City. Located in the vibrant Trastevere district, amidst rows of restaurants and bars, it offers a spacious and casual atmosphere. While the staff maintains an exceptionally friendly and caring demeanor, they also demonstrate outstanding expertise and skill, captivating visitors with top-tier service.This establishment allows guests to immerse themselves in Rome's aperitivo culture while experiencing cutting-edge mixology.

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‍Cocktails Reflecting Five Tattoo Styles

Their latest cocktail menu, "Inked: The Liquid Tattoo," masterfully blends the bar's signature urban street style with tattoo culture. Bar manager Riccardo Rossi explains, "This list draws inspiration from five tattoo styles: Old School, New School, Tribal, Asian, and Chicano."

The list features 15 cocktails, each one a creative masterpiece expressed as "liquid tattoos." Every drink contains its own story and artistic expression, promising new discoveries with each sip.

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Old School 

This style draws inspiration from traditional sailor and prisoner tattoos. It presents iconic classic cocktails like Martinis and Old Fashioneds with sophisticated modern twists. The theme reimagines the most emblematic "traditional" cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, Martini, and Collins with unique interpretations. Despite using minimal ingredients, these drinks showcase intriguing depth of flavor.

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Go and Back Martini 

Fords Gin / Mancino Secco / Venturo Aperitivo / Mediterranean Water 

This cocktail pays homage to the sailors' tradition of tattooing one swallow when leaving home and another upon safe return. Rossi explains, "We translated this symbolic story into a Mediterranean-scented Martini. This cocktail embodies the departure, the return, and the tales of the journey."

A pre batch served martini, the water distilled with mediterranean herbs really give a hint of sea and sailor life.

‍Otzi 

Jack Daniel's Bonded / Apple & BBQ Bitters 

This is a unique twist on the Old Fashioned, featuring whiskey and apple BBQ bitters. The Old Fashioned, often called the "grandfather of cocktails," was the first cocktail to have its recipe recorded. This twisted version is dedicated to Otzi, the man known to have the world's oldest tattoos.

Otzi was discovered as a mummy in ice over 5,000 years ago, with more than 60 tattoos on his body. Rossi explains, "We combined history and tradition to draw parallels between this first tattooed man and the first recorded cocktail."

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Keith Collins 

Santiago de Cuba 11yr / Guava & Lime / Peach & Jasmine Soda (London Essence)

 This Collins-style cocktail is named after Norman Keith Collins, better known as Sailor Jerry, one of the founding fathers of the Old School tattoo style.

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New School 

New School represents contemporary innovation and individuality in both tattoo art and mixology. In tattooing, this style often draws inspiration from pop culture, games, movies, and comics, gaining popularity as the new generation's preferred tattoo style. This approach has inspired creative cocktails that employ innovative techniques to deliver novel drinking experiences.

New School cocktails not only showcase experimental techniques but also reflect modern trends, including the movement toward non-alcoholic beverages (mocktails).

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Origini 

Johnny Walker Black / Avocado / Coconut / Dulce de Leche / Churrasco Spices 

This cocktail could be described as a "gastro-cocktail," created using new techniques. With whiskey as its base, it combines avocado, coconut, dulce de leche, and churrasco spices to create a unique and complex flavor profile.

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Pickled Mule 

Altamura Vodka / Pickled Cucumber & Ginger / Chartreuse Verde / Strawberry Hard Seltzer 

This drink offers a unique twist on the Moscow Mule, which has become a "new classic" in recent years. The cocktail features pickled cucumber and ginger, strawberry hard seltzer, and is served on draft. Draft cocktails represent one of the current trends in the cocktail industry, and they're leading the way in this innovation.

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4 Kidzz

 Tanqueray 0.0 / Strawberry / Aloe / Crodino 

This mocktail embraces the new trend of non-alcoholic beverages. Using non-alcoholic gin and Crodino as its base, it combines aloe and strawberry to create a fresh and refreshing drink. It serves as a modern Moscow Mule variation, perfect for those looking to avoid alcohol.

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TRIBAL 

The Tribal-style drinks draw inspiration from Native American, Papuan, and Maori cultures and their native lands. Tribal tattoos, an art form with thousands of years of history, are known for their complex and symbolic designs. These tattoos have been used across tribal cultures worldwide as symbols of identity, social status, spirituality, and protection. Among these, Maori tattoos from Polynesia are perhaps the most widely recognized.

When it comes to drinks honoring Polynesian culture, Tiki drinks come to mind. "Here, we've created exotic and captivating experiences using rum and spiced syrups," explains bar manager Rossi.

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Tatau 

Trois Riviere Cuvée / L'Ocean Rum / Cointreau / Mango / Blue Cheese 

This drink offers a creamy, fruity, and rich flavor profile. The use of blue cheese might come as a surprise, but its combination with mango creates a new, complex, and intriguing flavor. Perfect for adventurous spirits willing to explore unknown taste experiences.

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Hawaiki

Pisco Porton Torontel / Sherry Oloroso / Mint Bitters / Ube / Lime 

This cocktail pays tribute not only to Pacific tribal cultures but also to South American tribes. It combines Peruvian pisco with Oloroso sherry, mint bitters, lime, and ube - the vibrant purple tuber essential to Filipino cuisine. This mix creates an exotic and elegant flavor profile that enhances the complex aromatics of the pisco. Filipinos and Maori share oral traditions and maritime culture, both tracing their Austronesian roots from Southeast Asia to Oceania.

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Geronimo 

Wild Turkey Bourbon / Campari / Mancino Rosso Amaranto / Squash / Hay / Nuts 

This cocktail is dedicated to Geronimo, the iconic Apache chief. Ingredients like hay, nuts, dates, and squash create rich flavors reminiscent of Apache lands. Like the depth of history and culture symbolized in tribal tattoos, this cocktail carries its own rich story and allure.

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CHICANO 

Chicano culture expresses itself through various art forms, including tattoos. This section pays tribute to Mexican-American culture and celebrates the excellence of Mexican culture and its products. Three agave spirit-based cocktails embody this cultural pride.

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Pachuco

Del Maguey Vida Mezcal / Mandarin / Miso / Agavesito / Saffron / Lime 

This drink offers a new twist on the classic Margarita style. It combines the smokiness of mezcal with mandarin, miso agave syrup, saffron, and lime to create a spicy and tangy flavor profile.

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Smile Now 

Espolon Reposado / Italicus / Fennel / Dill / Thyme / Grilled Pineapple / Absinthe 

A cocktail distinguished by its rich herbal aromas and bold acidity. The flavors of fennel, dill, and thyme intertwine with the sweetness of grilled pineapple and the complex notes of absinthe to deliver a unique taste experience.

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Michelada Highball 

Curado Cupreata / Tequila / Michelada Soda 

This highball is a refined take on the Mexican "Perro con cadena" (beer + tequila shot) style. The beer and tomato chutney-based michelada soda provides a refreshing taste. Enjoy its deep, addictive flavor that keeps you coming back for more.

The tomato chutney clarification technique, that was also present in the former menu “Mediterranean Negroni”, clarified the cocktail and gave to the cocktail that Mexican salsa flavour that makes you travel in Mexico with a sip.

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ASIAN

 Among Asian styles, Japanese traditional tattoos are particularly well-known. These tattoos draw inspiration from mythology, folklore, art, and nature, characterized by their large-scale designs. Japanese tattoos are intended to tell stories, distinguished by their delicacy and deep meaning.

Representing Asian cocktails, two highballs rich in Oriental flavors and Japanese essence are available. Both feature delicate, floral aromas with refreshing taste profiles.

Another famous tattoo style comes from Thailand's traditional tattoos. With ancient roots, these tattoos carry spiritual and magical significance, believed to bring protection and luck to the wearer. A uniquely flavored cocktail pays tribute to this style.

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Mikoi Tori 

Tanqueray Ten Gin / Yuzu / Basil / Mint / Violette / Tonica Bio (La Galvanina) 

This refreshing citrus-forward highball combines citrus gin with the freshness of yuzu, basil, and mint, while violet adds an elegant accent. Finished with organic tonic water, it offers an invigorating experience rich in citrus aromatics.

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Shi Shei 

Plymouth Gin / Amaro Santoni / Mancino Sakura / Raspberries & Mustard / Tonica Agrumi (San Pellegrino) 

A delicate and elegant highball featuring Mancino Sakura cherry blossom vermouth and Amaro Santoni. The fruity notes of raspberry combined with a subtle mustard kick create a unique and sophisticated flavor profile.

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‍Tom Tom 

Diplomatico Planas / Lemongrass / Coconut / Green Curry / Ginger / Peas 

This cocktail, reminiscent of Thai green curry, perfectly balances spiciness with creaminess. Aromas of coconut, lemongrass, and ginger deliver a deep experience evoking Thai culture. With Diplomatico Planas rum as its base, the subtle sweetness of peas envelops the entire drink.

Art and Design 

The new menu "Inked: The Liquid Tattoo" also showcases beautiful menu design that fuses art and aesthetics. This menu was created in collaboration with the renowned Propaganda Tattoo Temple (founded by rapper Noyz Narcos). The illustrations accompanying each category are thoughtfully designed to visually complement the cocktail and tattoo themes.

"They gave our menu a unique artistic touch. This partnership further strengthens our identity," says Rossi.

By now, you might have realized that Freni e Frizioni is more than just a bar. It's a meeting point for art, culture, and mixology, where everyone can find their own style, their own drink, and experience moments of joy and conviviality.

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"Inked: The Liquid Tattoo"  New Menu for 2025 

This new menu is the result of three months of dedicated work involving all team members. However, this unique menu will only be available for six months until summer. Don't miss this precious opportunity to experience innovative flavors and the stories behind them.

Freni e Frizioni is also the perfect spot to enjoy Rome's nightlife from early evening, offering not just cocktails but also a buffet-style aperitivo with light bites. Keep an eye out for their special events and guest shifts. It's recommended to check their official website and social media before visiting to plan your experience.

After enjoying your time at Freni e Frizioni, why not explore the charming Trastevere district? This area is filled with spots where you can enjoy beautiful streets and Rome's unique atmosphere. Make your Roman night special with cocktails from Freni e Frizioni.

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Courtesy images: Freni e Frizioni

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