To know me – to have had a drink with me – is to understand my love for Campari. I enjoy its bittersweet taste and that it can be mixed any number of ways (Campari and grapefruit at breakfast, don’t mind if I do). It’s merely added bonus that they happen to have one of the best ad games within the spirits industry, going on 150 years strong.

Beyond their groundbreaking illustrations and artwork, the Campari calendar has become a key part of the company’s creative marketing over the past several years. The limited edition Red Passion calendar typically features an exotic, devastatingly good looking lead (Benecio del Toro, Eva Mendes, Olga Kurylenko), and this year is no exception, with beautiful Oscar winning actress Penelope Cruz navigating mystical superstitions, including black cats, broken mirrors and salt shakers.

The images are hardly as cutting-edge as some of their art deco pieces from the twentieth century, but their cast of characters keeps the Campari narrative consistent and strong. Salute!

Campari Penelope Cruz Red Passion advertising campaigns models wine and spirits black white red

•  30 November 2012

Hey Girl, it’s all about Dark and Stormys here in Bermuda. And Gosling’s Black Seal Rum is the local’s choice.

wine and spirits dark and stormy Ryan Gosling Bermuda travel vacation Gosling's Black Seal Rum

•  11 August 2012  •  2 notes

Powering through deadlines with a late night negroni.

Campari wine and spirits negroni cocktails

•  23 July 2012

It’s the weekend!

wine and spirits black white red

•  20 July 2012

The Diamond is one of those special little places you don’t want anyone else to know about. They just get it.

the diamond greenpoint new york bars wine and spirits Brooklyn

•  25 April 2012

After the Parkinson’s Walk, we hit Johnny Mañana’s in East Falls. Their margs are strong, fish tacos tasty and tag line amusing: ‘The good, the bad, and the burrito.’ Cheers to that. Will definitely be back.

Johnny Mananas East Falls philadelphia food restaurants wine and spirits

•  24 April 2012

Last call at Motor City.

Motor City New York wine and spirits bar

•  24 March 2012

Lest there be a gin I haven’t tried, a friend just gifted me The Botanist by Bruichladdich. She’s beautiful.

Bruichladdich gin wine and spirits holidays Christmas

•  23 December 2011  •  1 note

Damn, I hope I make it to Italia this summer. Just a quick jaunt to Tuscany, that’s all I ask!! Below: Self-portrait, my bedroom view at my friend’s vineyard, San Polo, in Montalcino:

Italy Tuscany San Polo wine and spirits Montalcino travel

•  2 June 2011  •  7 notes

“Camparisoda made its debut with a single serve bottle designed by Fortunato Depero himself: it was the first pre-mixed drink sold worldwide. Due to its innovation and practicality, Camparisoda revolutionized the company’s production process.”

This 1950s ad by Franz Marangolo is one of my brand favorites. Salute Campari! Superior ad game for 150 years.

Campari Camparisoda Fortunato Depero wine and spirits Franz Marangolo advertising campaigns

•  12 January 2011  •  6 notes

I wasn’t able to make my way down North 3rd Street before most shops closed at 7pm. Until next time! I retreated to Oyster House on Sansom Street with my sister and dad. I’m not really a fan of raw oysters, but I never met a Campari cocktail I didn’t like! This joint has a kickass cocktail menu (just don’t drive).

I ordered The Truth About Us: Wild Turkey Bourbon, Green Chartreuse, Campari. Oh yes.

Campari Philadelphia food restaurant travel wine and spirits Oyster House

•  4 January 2011

I’d read about them. I’d savored their Snap. But I’d never been! Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction was my first stop on the small but stellar retail strip that is North 3rd Street (between Race and Market Streets in Old City).

The shop has all the cool and authentic charm of a leading artisanal NYC boutique – but without the ego. Worth the hype and a promising, directional milestone in Philly’s shopping landscape.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Philadelphia Snap fashion shop travel wine and spirits

•  2 January 2011  •  1 note

Flight from NYC was delayed a few hours, so as soon as we landed in Rio, we hit the ground running. No dropping bags at the hotel. Costume change in the airport bathroom and straight to Sugar Loaf!

To reach the summit, passengers take two cable cars. The first ascends to the shorter Morro de Açúcar, 220 meters high. After taking the first cable car, we made a pit stop for caipirinhas at Abençoado, a new full service restaurant on Morro de Açúcar. Co-owners João Vergara and Leonardo Rangel figured if there were going to be tourist kiosks atop this natural beauty, they might as well offer some authentic Brazilian cuisine!

Moqueca, above, is a traditional Brazilian stew with shrimp, badejo fish, rice, mandioca, manioc flour and azeite de dende (a Brazilian palm oil). Coming off ten hours of transit, this was the greatest dish of my life. Seriously, a contender for Last Meal.

Overlooking the Pão de Açúcar peak, João and Leo brought out one caipirinha after another after another. You could call them experts on the drink: Leo’s family founded Rio’s famous Academia da Cachaça restaurants, replete with over 2000 bottles of this popular Brazilian liquor (made from distilled sugarcane).

Some friends spotted around Sugar Loaf…

Academia da Cachaça João Vergara Leonardo Rangel Morro de Açúcar Pão de Açúcar Rio de Janeiro Sugar Loaf moqueca travel Abençoado wine and spirits food

•  12 December 2010