Italian Aperitivo brand Italicus has partnered with renowned mixologist LP O’Brien, winner of the Netflix series Drink Masters, to announce the first-ever National Rosolio Day on 1 September.

Established in honour of the brand’s 8th anniversary, Italicus will celebrate the aperitivo around the world, with eight countries taking part in hosting week-long events featuring special cocktails created with Italicus.

As part of the festivities, O’Brien will present a mini-series campaign to educate consumers about the brand, the aperitivo category, and its culture.

“Being part of the anniversary and Italicus’s launch of Rosolio Day is a tremendous honour,” explains LP. “I’m incredibly grateful to be associated with a brand that demonstrates such thoughtfulness in every aspect – from crafting the liquid to designing the bottle and creating a captivating story.”

Founded in 2016 by Giuseppe Gallo, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto revives the nearly forgotten Rosolio category.

In the Renaissance, Rosolio was initially crafted in convents and monasteries as a medicinal tonic. Rosolio, meaning “dew of the sun,” is traditionally made from a base of alcohol, unrefined sugar and water, infused with botanicals, herbs, and fruits – with the most common flavours using spices or citrus fruits.

“The aperitivo is a global trend that started in Italy,” explained Gallo. “Now having a trendy moment around the world, the aperitivo blends tradition and innovation in its story and is served in many cocktails at the best global bars.

Despite a decline in the 19th century, Rosolio has experienced a modern revival driven by the craft cocktail movement and a renewed appreciation for traditional spirits.

“For this campaign, we are extremely excited to partner with LP O’Brien – one of the most creative minds in the international mixology scene – to inaugurate Rosolio Day on 1st September.”

Participating bars in Italy, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland will host week-long activations during which consumers can try delicious ITALICUS cocktails from an exclusive menu.

A list of bars can be found on the ITALICUS website: https://rosolioitalicus.com/the-art-of-italicus/rosolio-day.

Along with these bars, ITALICUS can also be tasted and explored in some of the world’s 50 best bars, including Connaught Bar in London, Sips in Barcelona, Freni e Frizioni in Rome, Double Chicken Please in New York, Bar Leone in Hong Kong, Maybe Sammy in Sydney, Café La Trova in Miami, and BKK Social Club in Bangkok.

Great Jones Distilling, Manhattan’s first and only distillery since Prohibition, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Manhattan cocktail with an exclusive bartender competition.

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In collaboration with New York Magazine, Great Jones is challenging bartenders from across the tri-state area to put Manhattan back into the Manhattan by creating their own twist on the classic Whiskey cocktail.

Bartenders are asked to showcase their creativity by crafting a Manhattan that both honours the history of the iconic cocktail and brings something new to the table – with Great Jones Bourbon as the star.

The bartender who crafts the winning Manhattan will not only earn the prestigious title of the Manhattan, Manhattan bartender but will also receive a grand prize of $USD5,000 and a digital feature in New York Magazine.

Submissions are open until October 1, 2024.

To enter and get more information, go to greatjonesmanhattancompetition.com

Global Vodka brand Stoli is teaming up with Sydney’s Golden Age Cinema and Bar for a dazzling series of Martini & Movie Mondays to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic film The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Featuring bespoke Martinis crafted by Miss Martini, aka. Ana Page, the vibrant atmosphere of the events are set to pay homage to the film’s vivacious spirit.

Inspired by the film, the four bespoke Martinis include –

Tequila Don Julio and Mexican-American fashion designer Willy Chavarria continue their longstanding partnership to celebrate the release of the Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino with an Artist Edition bottle.

Inspired by his upbringing in the San Joaquin Valley of California and his love of art and luxury design, the artist edition showcases Chavarria’s creative vision and depictions of one of the most respected Mexican holidays – Día de Muertos.

Bringing his unique vision to the Cristalino Artist Edition bottle, Chavarria has meticulously crafted designs that showcase his signature style. He pairs roses with interpretations of classic Mexican iconography from the Día de Muertos holiday.

“I am deeply inspired by my Mexican heritage, which I strive to represent through my art and design,” explains Willy Chavarria. “The Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle, along with my recent collection, is a heartfelt illustration of the synergy between time-honoured tradition and Mexico’s modernism.”

Created in 2012 to celebrate Don Julio’s 70th anniversary, Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino is aged to perfection for 18 months in American white oak barrels and offers the rich complexities of a traditional Añejo with a modern twist. Embodying the essence of innovation, Añejo Cristalino Tequila imparts a pure crystal hue through a charcoal filtration process that brings out the crisp agave flavour typically found in a Blanco.

“Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino is a symbol of our leadership and love for tequila craft,” says Karen Harris, Vice President of Tequila Don Julio, DIAGEO NA. “We are proud to partner with Willy Chavarria to bring his designs to life through a collaboration that celebrates the interaction of the tradition and modernity of Mexico.”

This fall, Tequila Don Julio is releasing the Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle, and celebrations will roll out across the nation. They will start with Willy Chavarria’s Spring/Summer 2025 runway show in New York City, which will debut an exclusive capsule collection inspired by Tequila Don Julio. The events continue with Mexican Independence Day in Chicago and Día de Muertos in Los Angeles.

Follow @DonJulioTequila and @WillyChavarriaNewYork to get a first look at the exclusive capsule collection and learn more about how you can join in on the celebrations this fall.

The Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle designed by Willy Chavarria will be avilable at select retailers nationwide and online at DonJulio.

Mexican Tequila brand Maestro Dobel has today announced its return to the US Open as the “Official Tequila” of the tournament to bring a ‘tennis meets tequila’ vibe with the Dobel Tequila Club.

Offering fans a world-class, authentic Mexican hospitality experience, the Dobel Tequila Club will feature drinks like the Dobel Tequila Ace Paloma and a selection of culinary offerings from Chef Enrique Olvera, one of the world’s most iconic Mexican chefs.

The Dobel Tequila Bar at Stadium 17 will include a lounge for fans to relax between matches and enjoy smooth tequila cocktails throughout the tournament’s first week. Fans can also enjoy Dobel’s cocktails at four Ace Paloma cocktail carts across the US Open grounds.

“In recent years, we’ve seen U.S. consumer interest in premium tequilas increase exponentially – led by consumption of the ever-popular paloma and margarita cocktails,” said Lander Otegui, SVP Marketing at Proximo Spirits.

“With consumer interest in tennis also expanding in recent years, particularly among a younger multicultural audience, it was the perfect match for Maestro Dobel to become the ‘Official Tequila’ of the US Open,” Otegui continued. 

Since 2022, Dobel has supported top U.S. ATP and WTA tournaments, including the Miami Open, BNP Paribas Open and the Cincinnati Open. Additionally, Dobel continues its partnership with global tennis maestros Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka. This year at the US Open, Dobel will feature the Dobel Fritzy Spicy Margarita and the Dobel Marg-Aryna (the first player-inspired cocktails to be served at the tournament).

In the lead-up to the tournament, Dobel will act as presenting sponsor of this year’s “Flavors of the Open” ticketed food and beverage event on the evening of Thursday, August 22, and supporter of the annual USTA Foundation Gala on Monday, August 26.

For fans looking to “ace” their serve from home, Maestro Dobel has partnered with Cocktail Courier for a Dobel Tequila Ace Paloma Cocktail Kit, available now through September. 

For more information, go to maestrodobel.com or connect via @dobeltequila.

Italian Aperitivo brand Aperol is back at the US Open for a second year, bringing the bright and bubbly orange vibe through its Spritz Bar and also its new Aperol Merch Shop.

For the first time, the iconic orange aperitivo is bringing The Aperol Merch Shop to the US. For its initial drop, the brand is introducing an exclusive apparel collection to celebrate one of the Summer’s most popular sports, tennis.

Aperol’s signature joyful orange hue inspires the new capsule collection and leans into popular tennis-core and racquet-sport aesthetics. The bespoke line is casual yet premium, perfect for all summer and daytime joyful occasions.

Aperol has also collaborated with Ashley Park, best known for her role in Emily in Paris, who will join Aperol to kick off the championship.

“I’ve loved playing and watching tennis ever since I was young, and it has always been my dream to attend a grand slam,” explained Park. “I can’t wait to watch the US Open and enjoy the match while sipping a bright and bubbly Aperol Spritz, which became one of my favourite cocktails while filming in Europe. The vibrant flavour makes it perfect for spending time in the sun together with my favourite people.”

Aperol can also be seen courtside, with The Aperol Spritz Bar, a branded indoor-outdoor patio space located off the grounds’ primary esplanade.  The bar will serve Aperitivo boxes with light bites that pair perfectly with the Aperol Spritz. Two Aperol bar carts will also be stationed inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on the stadium’s west side and just outside the Food Village.

“We’re excited to have tennis lovers join the joy with Aperol again for our second year as an official partner of the US Open,” said Andrea Sengara, Campari America’s VP of Marketing. “Aperol and the US Open share deep-rooted traditions and values centred around uniting people, making the brand a perfect match for this iconic daytime social event.”

Aperol’s Tennis Capsule Collection can be purchased at https://us-shop.aperol.com/