Campari

Gruppo Campari Expands with Carolans, Frangelico and Irish Mist

Filed under: Spirits

You may recognize the name Campari for the famous bitter apertif, but the group has long since expanded into one of the largest drinks concern. The sixth largest in the world, as a matter of fact, and it keeps on growing.

The group's rapidly expanding portfolio of brands already includes such well-known spirits as Aperol apertif, Cinzano vermouth, Glen Grant single malt scotch whisky, and SKYY vodka. Last year Gruppo Campari acquired the Wild Turkey brand of bourbon from Pernod Ricard, and has now announced its latest acquisition of Carolans, Frangelico and Irish Mist.

The €129 million acquisition takes these brands off the hands of William Grant & Sons – distillers of such single malts as Glenfiddich and Balvenie – which had purchased the liqueur labels alongside the Irish whisky distillers Tullamore Dew from C&C Group in May.

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Tags: campari, campari group, carolans, frangelico, gruppo campari, irish mist

Manhattan Goes Cocktail Crazy

by Amy Cortese (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Events

This Friday, May 14th, New York turns into the Big Appletini with the start of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic.

The first-ever five-day festival -- "part conference, part cocktail party" as the organizers call it -- features seminars, hands-on classes and tastings to celebrate and explore the culture and the craft of the cocktail.

Discover boutique distillers, blend you own single malt whiskey, trace the history of the martini, celebrate Campari's 150th anniversary, discuss the roots of moonshine in the American South (and its present day renaissance) with a legendary bootlegger, sample Monastic tipples and cheeses, be regaled by tales from behind the bar.... these are just a sampling of the activities on tap.

The events take place at the Astor Center and bars around the city. For the gala kick-off party, top bartenders, chefs and all manner of revelers will take over all four floors of the New York Public Library (so if you find an errant olive among the solemn shelves the next time you are checking out a book, you'll know why).

The Cocktail Classic was dreamed up by thirteen bartenders, educators, bar owners and professional imbibers, including David Wondrich, a cocktail historian and author; Lesley Townsend, founding director of the Astor Center; mixologist Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail; and beverage director extraordinaire and Pegu co-owner Julie Reiner, to name a few.

For a complete list of events and tickets, go to http://2010tickets.manhattancocktailclassic.com/. If the event you want is sold out, console yourself with a stiff drink and the knowledge that the Cocktail Classic will return next year.

Tags: Astor Center, boutique distillers, campari, cocktails, manhattan cocktail classic, New York Public Library, single malt whiskey

Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko Stars in 2010 Campari Calendar

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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

Jessica Alba Stars in New Campari Campaign

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Classic Italian aperitif Campari has just unveiled its new multimedia ad campaign starring sexy actress Jessica Alba. The "Club Campari" campaign (above) includes pictures by famed fashion photographer Mario Testino and a commercial by legendary director Jean Paul Goude. Capturing Campari's Dolce Vita style, the campaign is
set in "a distinctive oceanside destination, where sensuality and temptation prevail in a sophisticated, playful atmosphere." Several of Testino's sexy snaps will be featured in a limited edition calendar, of which only 9,999 copies will be distributed worldwide. Testino also lensed Campari's previous campaign starring the stunning Salma Hayek. See the gallery for more pix.

Gallery: Jessica Alba for Campari

Tags: Ad campaign, AdCampaign, Campari, Italy, Jessica Alba, JessicaAlba, Mario Testino, MarioTestino

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

Coffee's Latest Buzz: Illyquore

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The maker of Italy's popular aperitif Campari has linked up with Italian coffee company Illy on a new coffee liqueur product called Illyquore. Guaranteed to give the Starbucks coffee liqueur and Kahlua a run for their money, the liqueur is to be launched in Italy in July and in the rest of the world in 2009. The new liqueur has adopted Illy's Arabica coffee taste without any additives. Illy will retain the brand rights and Campari will distribute.

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Tags: campari, coffee, espresso, illy, liqueur