Awaken Your Desire for a Drink: The Italian Rooster, COCCHI AMERICANO
Cocchi Americano
Founded in 1891 by Giulio Cocchi, Cocchi is a company rooted in the Piedmont tradition, producing aperitif wines and sparkling wines. It is a signature product of the Asti region of Italy. Despite over a century of history, Cocchi’s commitment to quality, passion, craftsmanship, and innovation remains unchanged. By 2018, the company had transformed into a prominent firm that honors its traditional heritage, offering a range of wines and sparkling products alongside its well-known vermouths.
Every Cocchi product originates from an enchanting love story (a young man fell in love with the boss's daughter). Giulio Cocchi discovered the local tradition in Asti of blending wine with herbs and spices, inspiring him to start a distillation and sparkling wine business in 1891. This innovation elevated the production of aromatized wines, making Cocchi a beloved brand among bartenders worldwide.
The Pioneer of Pop-up Bars
The energetic Giulio Cocchi sought to create an environment where more people could experience his products properly. This led to the concept of retail tasting rooms, and by 1913, Cocchi had opened seven tasting establishments in Piedmont, Italy, which later expanded to twelve locations.
Present-Day Cocchi Bars
While many of the original tasting points have either disappeared or changed names, some continue to operate under names like “Bar Barolino Cocchi,” “Bar Barolo Chinato Cocchi,” or “Bar Cocchi.”
Continuously operating Cocchi bars include:
- Bar Barolino Cocchi in Turin, via Bonelli 16
- Bar Barolo Chinato Cocchi in Savona, via Paleocapa
- Bar Barolino in Levanto, corso Italia
AMERICANO (16.5% VOL, 750ml)
First created in 1891 using the original recipe, Cocchi Americano is an aromatized wine with a blend of herbs and spices that adds a touch of bitterness (Amaricato). It was named "Americano" because it caters to the American tradition of drinking vermouth with ice and soda.
The iconic rooster label on the bottle, designed in the 1930s, symbolizes its role as an aperitif (awakening the appetite) and is a recognized emblem of the Asti region.
Key Ingredients: Gentian, Artemisia, citrus peel, and quinine.
Tasting Notes: Cocchi Americano bridges the gap between wine and spirits. Based on white wine, it incorporates herbal and spiced extracts that impart a subtle bitterness. The classic flavor profile is defined by white wine, sugar, herbs, spices, gentian flowers and leaves, artemisia, bitter orange peel, and elderflower.
The base white wine is pre-blended with herbal extracts to balance and enhance the flavors and textures.
COCCHI ROSA (16.5% VOL, 750ml)
Key Ingredients: Gentian, ginger, rose petals, citrus peel.
Cocchi Rosa is a variation of Cocchi Americano, using Piedmont red wine as its base and enhanced with herbal infusions, gentian, cinchona, citrus peel, and rose petals.
Tasting Notes: COCCHI ROSA showcases a natural deep red hue and the fragrance of wild roses. Combining red wine with floral extracts, gentian, cinchona, citrus peel, and saffron, alongside vanilla and rose petals, this blend maintains the authentic taste of red wine while adding complexity.
Recommended Cocktail: CORPSE REVIVER NO.2
Featured in The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock (published in 1930), this version of the Corpse Reviver (a variation of the original Cognac/Calvados/Sweet Vermouth blend) is renowned for its hangover-relieving properties. A sip of this refreshing and intense cocktail brings immediate revival.
Recipe:
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz Cocchi Americano (or Lillet Blanc)
- 1 oz Cointreau
- 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 Dash Absinthe Glass: Martini glass Method: Shake, strain, garnish with a citrus peel.
Featured Cocktail: Kung Fu Panda by Mike Zeng (Barules, Shanghai)
This innovative cocktail features homemade flavored gin combined with sous vide Cocchi Americano and natural bamboo leaf essence. A touch of sea salt water balances the flavors, while jasmine-flavored IPA beer adds effervescence, accentuating the floral, malty, and woody notes.
Ingredients:
- Shell Ginger-infused Beefeater Gin
- Palo Santo sous vide Cocchi Americano
- Bamboo Leaf Green Liquor
- Sea Salt Water
- Jasmine-infused IPA Beer