Cynar () is an Italian bitter apéritif of the '' amaro'' variety. It is made from 13 herbs and plants, predominant among which is the artichoke (''Cynara scolymus''), from which the drink derives its name. Cynar is dark brown and has a bittersweet flavor, and its strength is 16.5% alc/vol. It was launched in Italy in 1952. A version with 35% ABV, called Cynar 70 Proof, became available in the 2010s. Cynar is an apéritif (low sugar, low alcohol, meant to stimulate appetite), and can be consumed by itself, or mixed with

soda water Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent quali ...

and lemon or orange slice, or with

cola Cola is a Carbonation, carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus essential oil, oils, and other flavorings. Cola became popular worldwide after the American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, a trademarked br ...

, eggnog,

tonic water Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, modern tonic water typically has a significantly lower quinine content and is often more sweetened than the original medic ...

, milk, or bitter lemon soda). Europeans often mix it with orange juice, especially in Switzerland and Southern Germany, where Cynar and orange juice is a very popular combination. A variation of the

Negroni The negroni is a cocktail, made of equal parts gin, vermouth rosso (red, semi-sweet), and Campari, generally served on the rocks, and commonly garnished with an orange slice or orange peel. It is considered an apéritif. The drink has been doc ...

cocktail uses Cynar in place of

Campari Campari () is an Italian alcoholic liqueur, considered an aperitif, apéritif of the ''bitter'' variety (and not an amaro) by Italians while considered an apéritif of the Amaro (liqueur), amaro variety by Americans, obtained from the infusion of ...

, in the same way that a Cynar spritz replaces

Aperol Aperol ( , ) is an Italian bitter apéritif and digestif, apéritif made with Gentiana, gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, among other ingredients. It has a clear orange hue. Its name comes from ''apero'', a French slang word for 'apéritif'. Histo ...

in an Aperol spritz. Because of its artichoke component, Cynar is regarded as a digestif as well as an apéritif. In Brazil, where it is also produced, it is a very common beverage. It is usually consumed with

Cachaça ''Cachaça'' () is a Liquor, distilled spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice. Also known as ''pinga'', ''caninha'', and other names, it is the most popular spirit in Brazil.Cavalcante, Messias Soares. Todos os nomes da cachaça. São Pau ...

and sweet

Vermouth Vermouth (, ) is an Italian aromatized wine, aromatized, fortified wine, flavored with various Botany, botanicals (roots, Bark (botany), barks, flowers, seeds, Herb, herbs, and Spice, spices) and sometimes Food coloring, colored. The modern ve ...

in one of the more traditional drinks of Brazil named " rabo-de-galo", a rough translation of the word cocktail. In Argentina, where it is also produced locally, it is very common to be mixed with

grapefruit The grapefruit (''Citrus'' × ''paradisi'') is a subtropical citrus tree known for its relatively large, sour to semi-sweet, somewhat bitter fruit. The flesh of the fruit is segmented and varies in color from pale yellow to dark red. Grapefru ...

soda, usually, Paso de los Toros or

Schweppes Schweppes ( , ) is a soft drink brand founded in the Republic of Geneva in 1783 by the German watchmaker and amateur scientist Johann Jacob Schweppe; it is now made, bottled, and distributed worldwide by multiple international conglomerates, de ...

. Since 1995 Cynar has been manufactured and distributed by the

Campari Group Davide Campari-Milano N.V., trading as Campari Group, is an Italian company active since 1860 in the branded drink industry, beverage industry. It produces Distilled beverage, spirits, wines, and non-alcoholic apéritifs. From its signature produ ...

Advertising

The apéritif became popular during the early 1960s after its appearance on the Italian television advertising show '' Carosello''. The series of commercials, first starring Ferruccio De Ceresa, and from 1966 Ernesto Calindri, showed the actor sipping Cynar while sitting at a table placed in the middle of a busy street, urging consumers to drink Cynar "against the wear-and-tear of modern life". Toward the end of the 1970s, the commercial changed settings and moved from the busy city to a field of artichokes. The partnership between Calindri and the brand lasted until 1984.

References

External links

Official website
{{Dalle Molle Campari brands Bitters Italian liqueurs Italian brands Products introduced in 1952

Advertising

See also

References

External links