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Campari

This article is about the apéritif. For other uses, see Campari (disambiguation).
Campari
Logo
TypeBitters
ManufacturerCampari Group
Country of origin Italy
Alcohol by volume 20.5–28.5%
Proof (US)42–57
ColourCarmine
FlavourBitter, spicy and sweet
Websitecampari.com

Campari (Italian: [kamˈpaːri]) is an Italian alcoholic liqueur, considered an apéritif of the amaro variety, obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit (including chinotto and cascarilla) in alcohol and water. It is a type of bitters, characterised by its dark red colour. It is produced by the Davide Campari Group, a multinational company based in Italy.

History

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Campari was invented in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Novara, Italy. It was originally coloured with carmine dye, derived from crushed cochineal insects, which gave the drink its distinctive red colour. Campari Group discontinued the use of carmine in 2006.[1]

In 1904, Campari's first production plant was opened in Sesto San Giovanni, near Milan, Italy. Under the direction of Davide Campari, Gaspare's son, the company began to export the beverage, first to Nice in the heart of the French Riviera, then overseas.

The Campari brand is now distributed in over 190 countries. Campari is a registered trademark of Davide Campari Milano S.P.A.,[2][3] which is part of Gruppo Campari (Campari Group).

Critics

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As of December 2024, Campari Group continues to operate in Russia. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Campari Group announced the suspension of all investments in Russia, including advertising and promotional activities, and scaled down operations to the minimum necessary to pay its local staff. Despite these measures, Campari's products remain available in the Russian market.[4] In August 2023, reports indicated that Campari planned to introduce a new aperitif, Sarti Rosa, in Russia, suggesting a potential expansion of its product offerings in the country.[5][6]

Use

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Campari is often used in cocktails and is commonly served with soda water or citrus juice (most often pink grapefruit juice), often garnished with either blood orange or blood lime slice (mainly in Australia) or mixed with prosecco as a spritz.

Campari is an essential ingredient in several IBA official cocktails (of which Campari is a sponsor): the negroni, the Americano (which was named at a time when few Americans were aware of Campari), the boulevardier, and the old pal (removed from IBA list in 1987), as well as other drinks such as the Garibaldi. It is a common ingredient in spritzes, though other amari are also common.

In the Italian market, Campari mixed with soda water is sold in individual bottles as Campari Soda (10% alcohol by volume). Campari Soda is packaged in a distinctive bottle that was designed by Fortunato Depero in 1932.

Ratings

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Wine Enthusiast has reviewed Campari on a number of occasions, giving it a score of "96/100" in 2023.[7]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Simonson, Robert (26 November 2018). "The Secret to That Bright-Red Drink? Little Bugs". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "CAMPARI – Trademark Details". Justia. Justia Corporate Center. Retrieved 31 Dec 2019.
  3. ^ D’Ascenzo, Monica (15 March 2016). "Campari controlla il 45% dei marchi globali" [Campari controls 45% of global brands]. Finanza & Mercati (in Italian). Il Sole 24 Ore. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Russian court sides with Campari Aperol distributor in lawsuit". Reuters. 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  5. ^ "Campari отреагировала аперитивно". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  6. ^ "Never Can Say Goodbye. Despite Corporate Boycotts, Western Luxury Brands Are Still for Sale in Russia". The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  7. ^ "Campari Bitter". Wine Enthusiast Magazine. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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