Bottle in Rome

Some things don’t age as well as others. Take, for example, the story of Princess Ann, on a whirlwind European tour, who, for her “exhaustion”, is given some good medicine by her wise doctor - an injection that makes her pass out. Of course, the drug doesn’t take effect until after she has snuck out on her own, incognito. An American reporter finds her asleep on a city wall, so of course, he takes her back to his apartment, unconscious, for safety. While this may sound suspect today, back in 1953, when Audrey Hepburn (who won an Oscar for it) and Gregory Peck starred as these characters, it was all quite romantic.

One of the most iconic scenes from Roman Holiday involves the “Bocca della Verita” (Mouth of Truth), an ancient marble mask likely depicting the god of the ocean. The massive face rests against the portico inside the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church in Rome. The mouth is wide open, and legend has it that if you place your hand inside, and tell a lie, it will bite your hand right off!

The idea tickled future Karakuri Creation Group founder Akio Kamei, whose early puzzle box work is full of humor, human nature and common logic applied to the opening solutions of his pieces. At first, he envisioned a “Box in Rome”, based on this scene from the movie Roman Holiday, but later combined the idea with another he had about bottles, and created his famous “Bottle in Rome”.

On the bottle’s label, there is an obvious reference to the legend, but it is written in Japanese, so you might miss that it says “Bottle of Truth”. Just below that is a bit more Japanese, which I find rather amusing, considering how valuable this old work of Kamei’s is now. His playfulness is on display in this bottle, because if you are a bit nervous to try something that comes to mind, you should be! Of course, Kamei is not out to maim anyone, unlike a few other designers who may be guilty of taking this same concept a bit too far!

Rome with a View cocktail — Rome with a View by Michael McIlroy

I’m toasting this classic, iconic Roman story with another modern Roman classic. The cocktail is one of my favorites on a warm summer day, a tasty low alcohol sipper that does a lot with a few choice ingredients. It was created by Michael McIlroy, a New York bartender from the original Milk and Honey, the legendary bar in Soho that set the standard for the cocktail renaissance twenty years ago.

The drink is like an improved Tom Collins, which is itself a refreshing guilty pleasure made with gin, lemon, sugar and soda water. Or like an Americano, a more bitter but equally refreshing drink with Campari and vermouth, topped with soda, and enjoyed at outdoor cafes everywhere in Italy. Or it’s what you would get if you combine both if these … which is exactly what it is. Prego!

Bottle in Rome karakuri puzzle Akio Kamei and Rome with a View cocktail — when in Rome

Rome with a View by Michael McIlroy

1 oz Campari

1 oz dry vermouth

1 oz lime

¾ oz simple syrup

Soda water

Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass with fresh ice. Top with the soda. Orange wheel garnish.

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Roman Holiday

Bottle in Rome

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