Cinzano Classico was born in the late 1700’s at the bottega of Carlo Stefano and Giovanni Giacomo Cinzano. They were constantly experimenting with new recipes and techniques, that would appeal to the newly refined palates of the people of Torino.
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Between 1840 and 1888 Carpano’s reputation grew and a glass of Carpano became the aperitif par excellence and Turin’s favourite drink. In 2001, the Branca family acquired Carpano.
The home of vermouth is a spectacular city. And it is genuinely a city that is dedicated to the tradition of aperitivo. From 4pm, bars and caffes are full of people sharing a quick drink with friends before they head home for dinner. Aperitivo snacks are also mostly free here (expect anything from olives to a full platter), which is something that has started to fade away in other places in Italy.
From Barolo to Panzano, we got the chance to experience the landscape and see the towns that the 20th century forgot. Places with a just church, a cantina or two, a farmacia and that’s about it.
“It’s not an old-school product with 100 years of history, as it’s not a new world vermouth with an unusual compound in it, or an over-complicated structure. It’s my idea of a vermouth: traditional, talking about the core range, and modern, such as the Sakura and the Kopi.”
‘Aperitivo’ originates from the Latin word ‘Aperire’ meaning ‘to open your appetite’, and the word is evocative of Aperol, which was first introduced at the International Trade Fair of Padova, a lively and dynamic University town at the heart of Veneto
All the prep and hard work is done downstairs in the bespoke lab and kitchen. This is where they have a big ex-bourbon cask for ageing cocktails. At the time we were there a Brooklyn is in the barrel. Delicious.
In the bowels of the building is where you find the productions of everything from their brandy, Carpano, and of course, the Fernet Branca and Fernet Menthe. It’s a part of the building that is usually off limits for tours but it was so interesting to see the scale of the production
First stop on our Aperitivo Tour was Milan. It’s a city that gets a bit of a bad rap thanks to the smog and congestion but we loved it. There is a real aperitivo culture, stunning architecture and little alleyways dotted with cafes and trattorias are full of twinkling fairy lights and awnings.
After moving back to Australia from London in 2018, the dream for the pair was to open a bar. They just didn’t realise they would end up in Toowoomba for good.
While we’re stuck at home, it doesn’t hurt to dream of future travel plans. In this story you can visit seven of Edinburgh’s best pubs, according to Bartender magazine founder & publisher, David Spanton
Glenmorangie – fine single malt whisky from the banks of the Dornoch Firth