Campari
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Campari is an alcoholic (alcohol 20.5%, 21%, 25% and even 28% depending on the country in which it is purchased) aperitif obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. Campari is a type of bitters. It is a Campari Group brand.
Campari was invented by Gaspare Campari between 1862 and 1867. Today the product is still composed of the same original ingredients, thanks to a formula which has remained a secret for almost 150 years.
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[edit] History
The history of Campari began in Novara, Italy, in 1860, with the invention by Gaspare Campari of the recipe that is still in use today. The recipe is kept confidential; according to Gruppo Campari, there is only one person in the world who knows the entire formula for the original family recipe.[1] It is known that the colour came from natural Carmine Cochineal E120, but the Gruppo Campari in many countries has shifted to an alternative colorant.
In 1904, Campari's first production plant was opened in Sesto San Giovanni, near Milano (Italy). The company required bars that bought Campari to display the Campari Bitters sign; under the direction of Davide Campari, Gaspare's son, the company began to export the brand, first to Nice, the heart of the French Riviera, then overseas. The Campari brand is now distributed in over 190 countries.
In the Italian market, Campari mixed with carbonated 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; it was first created in 1932. Campari is said to have been one of the inspirations behind another bitter sweet drink called Kinnie produced in Malta since 1952.
Campari is an essential ingredient in the classic Negroni cocktail, and also in the Americano, named at a time when few Americans were aware of Campari. Campari can be used to make a sorbet.
[edit] In popular culture
The characters in Marguerite Duras's 1953 novel, Les petits chevaux de Tarquinia drink "bitter Campari" after "bitter Campari." Campari appeared in the music video of "Live your Life" by T.I and Rihanna in 2008. James Bond favored a couple of drinks containing Campari: Negroni and Americano. The sophisticate sister Sadie Shelton (Bette Midler) orders a Campari and soda in Big Business.
- In the lyrics of the Primus (band) song "Dirty Drowning Man," Campari is mentioned in juxtaposition to wild hog. "I drink Campari with marinated wild hog". The song appears as Track 9 on the band's 6th full-length studio album entitled "Antipop", which was recorded and released in 1999.
- In the film Il bidone directed by Federico Fellini, one swindler orders a Campari and another orders a Negroni.
- In the 1985 film Stick, Burt Reynold's character, Ernest "Stick" Stickley, is working as a bartender at a private party and could not make a Campari and soda until being told it was a red liquor.
- John Updike's Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit at Rest (1990) features Campari, Janice Angtrom's "anesthetic of choice" in the Floridian locale.
- A 1983 imitation of a Campari advertisement in Hustler Magazine, regarding Jerry Falwell's "first time," subjected Hustler owner Larry Flynt to suit for libel and defamation.
- Jessica Alba is the 2009 Calendar Girl for the Campari campaign
- Campari was the favored drink of lead character Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, a film by director Wes Anderson.
- In the 1979 sexploitation film Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair Campari and lemonade is the favoured drink of Millicent Cumming, played by Mary Millington.
- The lead character in the novel 'The Day of the Jackal' by Fredrick Forsyth is referred to favour Campari and soda.
- Campari is mentioned in the song "Fiesta" by The Pogues
- Campari was featured in Christina Aguilera's music video,"Candyman".
- Campari is the prefered drink of Tam when he is at Jack and Victors casino night in the episode of still game cairds series 3 episode 3
- In TI's song Live Your Life featuring Rihanna extras are seen drinking Campari.
- In Lady Gaga's music video for "Love Game," a man is holding a bottle of Campari. Lady Gaga is dancing in a room surrounded by men, and at one point, the camera focuses on the bottle.
- In The Pussycat Dolls' music video for "Hush Hush", a bottle of Campari is shortly but clearly visible. In the next scene, one of the dolls grabs a glass of Campari which is positioned in front of the camera.
- In the 2009 film The Brothers Bloom, the character Bang Bang, played by Rinko Kikuchi, is said to only speak three words of English. She only speaks three words in the film, and Campari is one of them.
