Aperitivi & Co Experience / by shane eaton

Aperitivi & Co Experience is the biggest event of the year for those in the bartending industry. It’s organized by Bartender.it and brings together the best Italian distilleries, both big and small, at Lambretto Studios in Milano.  In addition to the exhibit, where companies provide samples of their best brandies, grappe, bitters, vermouths and other products, there is a great lecture series featuring giants of the bartending scene including Leonardo Leuci, Agostino Perrone, Luca Cinalli and Dario Comini.

My focus was to try lesser known distilled products from Italy at the fifty or so stands at Aperitivi & Co. Touring around the various stands was also a great chance to meet some of my idols in the Italian beverage scene such as Walter Gosso, Memfi Baracco, Elena Delmagno, Patrizia Bevilacqua, Marco Giuridio, Vanessa Vialardi and many more.  A special thanks to Maria Anna for introducing me to everyone!


Here is my list of favorite products from yesterday:

1. Liqueur with porcino mushroom from Calabro – a perfect aperitivo that gives a beautiful aroma and taste of porcini from the La Sila mountain range in Calabria. 

2. Girolimino amaro liqueur is a delicious digestif from the secret medieval recipe using herbs and aromatics from Mount Summano (Vicenza) 

3. Vermouth del Professore 2015 (storica ricetta con vaniglia). Quaglia and the boys at Jerry Thomas are wizards at making vermouth and their 2015 edition is spectacular, with hints of vanilla. 

4. Bernard’s Serpoul elixir is a liqueur characteristic of the Cottion Alps, with a beautiful aroma thanks to cold maceration in water, alcohol and sugar from wild thyme flowers that are picked above 2000 m altitude. 

5. Gagliardo radical bitter made by infusion of herbs, roots and spices for 18 days. The final concoction is obtained by hand stirring with bâtonnage method and is absolutely delicious as an aperitif.

6. Nardini Cofanetto Aquavite di Vinaccia Riserva 15 Anni. Thanks to Mauro for letting us try this truly special grappa aged for 15 years.

The Martini ambassadors: Daniele, Marco and Elena

The Martini ambassadors: Daniele, Marco and Elena

The girls at Lucano

The girls at Lucano

Mr. Angelo Corbetta 

Mr. Angelo Corbetta 

Vanessa at the Carpano stand

Vanessa at the Carpano stand

Patrizia shows off some Cointreau

Patrizia shows off some Cointreau

Angelo, Patrizia and Shane

Angelo, Patrizia and Shane

The king of them all, Leonardo Leuci

The king of them all, Leonardo Leuci

Ma chi sono questi ?!

Ma chi sono questi ?!

Maria Anna teaches Shane how to appreciate a fine liqueur

Maria Anna teaches Shane how to appreciate a fine liqueur

Walter and Maria Anna

Walter and Maria Anna

Angelo and Maria Anna

Angelo and Maria Anna

The gentlemen at Cinzano

The gentlemen at Cinzano

Gagliardo girls

Gagliardo girls

Ilaria with Girolimino liqueur

Ilaria with Girolimino liqueur

The ladies at the Bernard stand

The ladies at the Bernard stand

Alice

Alice

qui si beve!

qui si beve!

The delicious liqueurs of Bernard e figli

The delicious liqueurs of Bernard e figli

I love Ramazzotti

I love Ramazzotti

Mauro Uva with Nardini grappe

Mauro Uva with Nardini grappe

Vermouth del Professore 2015 (Photo Leonardo Leuci)

Vermouth del Professore 2015 (Photo Leonardo Leuci)

Si mangia anche...la pasta alla gricia era una bomba!!!

Si mangia anche...la pasta alla gricia era una bomba!!!