The Hamptons is no stranger to opulence and this summer has proved no exception.
But now one Sag Harbor eatery is taking it to the next level, with an eye-wateringly expensive cocktail dripping in diamonds.
Italian restaurant Dopo La Spiaggia is now offering a giant martini with a serious $8,000 twist.
The drink, a mix of gin and vermouth, is garnished with traditional olives and features a diamond tennis necklace crafted by Manhattan jeweler, Jimmy the Rock Diamonds.
The Rock on Rocks, as the martini has been dubbed, has already proven popular with around half a dozen sold since its July 21 debut.
This special cocktail is served in a keepsake glass engraved with both the restaurant’s and the jeweler’s names, shared Jimmy Roccisano, founder of Jimmy the Rock Diamonds, in an interview with Daily Mail.
‘It’s just fun,’ Roccisano told The Mail.
Conceptualizing this unique offering, Roccisano reached out to his longtime friend Maurizio Marfoglia, who owns and cooks at Dopo La Spiaggia, to see if he wanted to collaborate on the idea.
Dopo La Spiaggia, a notable Italian restaurant, is providing a unique drink experience exclusive to the Hamptons, specifically in the upscale area of Sag Harbor. Their menu features a standard martini with an extravagant $8,000 twist.
This sophisticated gin and vermouth concoction comes adorned with a string of olives from which dangles a five-carat diamond tennis necklace designed by Manhattan’s Jimmy the Rock Diamonds.
Marfogila didn’t even hear the end of the idea before joining up with Roccisano, whom he met in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood in the 1990s.
‘He’s so generous,’ the jeweler said of his friend. ‘He’s a wonderful guy.’
The necklace is also sold at its wholesale price of $8,000, rather than its retail price of $10,000, which is irking Hamptons jewelers.
But for Roccisano, it was never about the money, but for charity. Each martini sold comes with a $1,000 donation to a charity of the buyer’s choice.
‘I do a lot of charitable stuff,’ the jeweler said. ‘[I was thinking] what’s something charitable I could do out East.
‘It’s not a profitable thing. People laughed about it, but it was fun.’
Nevertheless, the drink has grabbed the attention of those who love a niche experience, as well as jewelry enthusiasts.
“We aren’t trying to sway anyone,” clarified Manager Ania Stesik to Fox 5. “It’s for individuals interested in a unique experience, beyond simply purchasing a necklace from a jeweler,” Stesik explained to the outlet.
The necklace is also sold at its wholesale price of $8,000, rather than its retail price of $10,000. And $1,000 of the purchase goes to charity
Rita Burton, 72, who bought the drink as a longtime Jimmy fan, chose a breast cancer charity to honor her mother with her purchase, she told the New York Post.
‘To get to donate something to charity makes it a good deal,’ she told the outlet.
The Arizonan was visiting New York City when she decided to extend her stay after hearing the Long Island restaurant was offering the drink dripping in her favorite jewelry.
‘This was a lot more fun than just shopping,’ she told The Post. ‘I get to eat and sit here and enjoy this pretty view and enjoy the Hamptons.’
Burton didn’t even know what the necklace looked like before she splashed out on the expensive cocktail.
And for those who don’t like martinis, the restaurant is happy to accommodate with any drink of choice, including an iced coffee, but don’t expect a discount.
The cocktail has proved so popular that the restaurant’s other location, Dopo Argento in Southampton, will also start serving the swanky drink.
It will be available to purchase until the end of summer, Roccisano told Daily Mail.
