Campari Group buys Del Professore

Aperol owner Campari Group has acquired Italian vermouth and gin brand Del Professore for an undisclosed amount.

Leonardo Leuci founded Del Professore in 2013. The brand was inspired by American mixologist Jerry Thomas – also known as ‘The Professor’ – who reintroduced old-time production techniques to the modern world of bartending.

Campari Group will be bringing the brand’s range to the UK on-trade.

Francesco Cruciani, managing director, Campari Group UK, said: “The addition of Del Professore to our Rare collection is one that complements our current portfolio, including those within the Italian Icons.

“Much like Campari Group, Del Professore is rooted in Italian culture and heritage, and sits within the heart of modern-day cocktail culture.”

The brand’s portfolio includes Del Professore Vermouth di Torino GI Rosso, a style of Italian vermouth from the 1800s and early 1900s.

The vermouth is made with a base of 100% Italian wines, with flavours from botanicals. It has a caramel colour due to the red wine infusions, and is complemented by ‘pleasant bitter notes’.

Del Professore’s gin collection includes Del Professore Gin Monsieur, Gin à la Madame, and Gin Crocodile.

The Gin Monsieur expression was inspired by Thomas, while Gin à la Madame paid homage to his wife. The latter expression is made with botanicals including juniper, lemon, orange, cinnamon, vanilla and wild rose.

Gin Crocodile is a nod to Thomas’s time travelling across the ocean as a musician, before returning to his mixology roots. It incorporates notes of citrus with ‘delicate’ coriander, elderflower and Jamaican pepper.

In October last year, Campari Group acquired a minority stake in Catalyst Spirits, while simultaneously reporting double-digit growth for the first nine months of its fiscal year.

It followed the company’s investment in banana-flavoured Bourbon brand Howler Head from Catalyst Spirits for US$15 million.