Aperitif

Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko Stars in 2010 Campari Calendar

Filed under: Spirits

Ukranian model / actress Olga Kurylenko, who played a Bond Girl opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace, has just been unveiled as the star of the 2010 Campari Calendar. Following in the footsteps of former calendar stars Salma Hayek, Eva Mendes and Jessica Alba, Kurylenko appears in a series of vignettes in different locations around Milan indulging in the classic Italian aperitif. Italian photographer Simone Nervi shot the photos, including the image above for December of a Gucci-clad Kurylenko surrounded by Ducati Monster-riding admirers at Milan's Piazza Duca D'Aosta. The twelve images will be featured in the limited edition calendar, with only 9,999 copies being printed to be distributed worldwide.

Tags: 007, aperitif, Bond Girl, BondGirl, calendar, Campari, celebrity, Ducati, Italy, James Bond, JamesBond, Milan, Olga Kurylenko, OlgaKurylenko

William Grant's Spirits of Summer

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When the weather finally warms up in these parts we look forward to sitting out in the garden with the sun, the birds, a good book and a tall cool drink. We recently had the chance to try some great new candidates for quaffing - three (relatively) recent entries and one true classic - courtesy of William Grant & Sons spirits. Reyka is the first and only vodka to be distilled and bottled in Iceland. The small-batch, hand-crafted, ultra-pure spirit is distilled in a copper still imported from Scotland using barley, wheat, and spring water filtered through 4,000 year-old lava rock. Milagro super premium tequila is crafted in small batches from estate-grown 100% blue agave hand-selected in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. Using traditional clay ovens, Milagro slow roasts the agave six times longer than most tequilas, and uses a triple distillation process that imparts exceptional smoothness.

Sailor Jerry Rum bears the signature of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, the father of old-school tattooing. Distilled to 92 proof, it's a strong, spiced, smooth spirit. Made from Sailor Jerry's personal recipe, it's handcrafted from pure, rich dark molasses, blending Carribean-style rum with vanilla, caramel and various spices. And Lillet, an aperitif blended from 85% wine and 15% citrus liqueurs from France, was established way back in 1872. The wines are carefully selected in the Podensac area and citrus liqueurs are produced through the maceration of cold fruit peels in pure distilled spirits over several months. It's then aged in oak to acquire a soft, rich character. We're partial to the Blanc variety with its hints of honey, candied orange, lime, and mint.

Tags: aperitif, France, Iceland, Lillet, Lillet blanc, LilletBlanc, Mexico, Milagro, Reyka, rum, Sailor Jerry, SailorJerry, summer cocktails, SummerCocktails, tequila, vodka, William Grant, William Grant Sons, WilliamGrant, WilliamGrantSons

Campari Celebrates Summer in Style

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

In our Classicist column about Veuve Clicquot's collaboration with Riva Yachts the other day we fell to musing about Dolce Vita style on the Riviera. Of course, nothing exemplifies seaside sprezzatura quite like Campari, the classic Italian aperitif. The bold red spirit with the sexy ads starring Salma Hayek (above) has been around since 1860, but that doesn't mean they've run out of things to do with it. Campari and soda is the classic combo - and one of our seasonal staples - but the company has come up with several spiffy new cocktails for summer. See the gallery for recipes, including a couple that can be made in large quantities for parties.

Gallery: Campari Summer Style

Campari Sgroppino - created by mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim

Campari Passion - created by mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout

Tags: Aperitif, Campari, Dolce Vita style, DolceVitaStyle, Italian Riviera, Italian style, ItalianRiviera, ItalianStyle, Italy, La Dolce Vita, LaDolceVita, Riviera, Salma Hayek, SalmaHayek, Summer cocktails, SummerCocktails

French Cocktail Hour Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

Coming next Thursday, June 5, the apéritif is being resurrected at an event known as "French Cocktail Hour Day" across twenty-four countries and thirty-eight cities. The French tradition of before dinner libations to transition one from the stress of the work day to the fun and company of friends and a great meal are typically light and vibrant like champagne or vermouth. Here in the U.S. there will be some big celebrations in NYC and Washington D.C. filled with chic cocktail parties at top spots featuring Georges Deboeuf wines and Kimpton Hotels. Personally, I fully support refreshing, glamorous drinks that start the night off right -- apéritifs are a sophisticated way to unwind.

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Tags: aperitif, French-Cocktail-Hour-Day, Georges-Deboeuf-wines, Kimpton-Hotels