From Italian Convenience to the Legendary Vermouth: CINZANO's Secret Recipe

The legendary Italian vermouth brand CINZANO traces its history back to 1707 when its founder, Giovanni Cinzano, received a royal distillation license. This allowed him to start producing and selling brandy and various syrups in Italy. In 1757, Giovanni’s sons, Carlo Stefano and Giovanni Giacomo Cinzano, joined the prestigious guild of distillers and syrup merchants, becoming master blenders. This guild, supported by the royal court, oversaw international trade to ensure the quality of products sold and purchased.

A Multifunctional Store

With the guild's support, the two brothers established their own distillery and shop. The CINZANO store not only sold sweets, candies, fruits, and chocolates but also offered intricately carved figurines, fruit preserves, and a variety of liquors, syrups, and rose oil. The store was reminiscent of a blend between a high-end convenience store and an antique shop, enriched with both confectionery sales and distillation techniques that allowed the brothers to refine their herb infusion ratios and production processes. This laid the strong foundation for the future of CINZANO vermouth.

Marketing and Media

By 1898, when media advertising was prohibitively expensive for many businesses, CINZANO invested heavily in advertising. They used a variety of media including posters, postcards, magazines, and newspaper features, even collaborating with artists to cement CINZANO as a trend in society.

The Vermouth Legacy

In 1816, Giovanni’s grandson, Francisco, began selling CINZANO vermouth at the family store. By 1859, Francisco II expanded the family business internationally, achieving great success in France and Latin America.

In 1868, Francisco II’s son, Enrico, took the business to another milestone by establishing Francesco CINZANO & Co., gaining royal endorsement. The company evolved from a multifunctional shop into a business focused primarily on its vermouth line.

In 1999, Gruppo Campari, known for owning brands like Campari and Wild Turkey, acquired CINZANO. After more than two centuries, CINZANO continues to convey the timeless Italian spirit with its secret recipe loved by vermouth enthusiasts around the world.

The traditional CINZANO logo, first introduced in 1925, features blue, symbolizing luxury and nobility, and red, representing passion.

Extra Dry

Color: Pale yellow
Aroma: Fresh mint, sage, and oregano leaf notes with subtle spices and wine fragrance
Taste: Notable herbal and spicy flavors with a slightly bitter finish

Rosso

Color: Amber
Aroma: Vanilla, black cherry, with hints of creamy caramel
Taste: Smooth, natural grape sweetness, spices, with a complex, full-bodied, slightly bitter, herbal finish

Bianco

Color: Pale yellow
Aroma: Delicate white peach, floral notes, with refreshing savory marjoram and a hint of thyme
Taste: Natural sweetness fills the palate with subtle fruit, vanilla bean, and cinnamon, ending in a bittersweet note

Featured Cocktail – Blade: Soaring Under the Cross

Barules’ new superhero series – Blade: Soaring Under the Cross by Mike Zeng, Barules Shanghai

• Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Scotch
• Black Garlic Sous Vide CINZANO Rosso
• Mushroom Extract
• Grapefruit Juice
• Guinness Syrup
• Black Pepper & Tabasco Salt Water

Using sous vide, CINZANO Rosso is infused with black garlic at low temperature, blending the pungent aroma with the caramel and vanilla notes of the Rosso to create an alluring flavor trigger. The natural umami from the mushroom extract bursts on the palate, while the delicate Guinness syrup coats the flavor layers, allowing the whiskey to seamlessly unfold. The salty water, infused with pepper and Tabasco, adds a subtle balance to the sensory whirlwind, presented in a dramatic "blood plasma" style, paying tribute to the fierce yet refined character of Blade, perfect for the bloodthirsty and the bold drinker alike.