A new training and rewards programme is under way for Italian beer Peroni Nastro Azzurro in conjunction with leading mixologist Gerry Calabrese (pictured).
The “Servito con Stile” programme aims to support bars in ensuring consumers get the perfect serve and enjoy “a superior drinking experience”.
It has been developed with drinks specialist Gerry Calabrese, son of Italian cocktail maestro Salvatore Calabrese and operator of The Hoxton Pony bar in Shoreditch and Baroque at the Playboy Club, both in London.
Gerry is acting as the face of “Servito Con Stile”, sharing his passion for Peroni Nastro Azzurro’s brewing and Italian style credentials.
The programme sees a dedicated field sales team visiting outlets nationwide to train staff on the perfect serve. As an additional incentive to take part, bartenders who have been trained will also be offered rewards, including exclusive Peroni Nastro Azzurro gift packs and the chance to win a trip to Italy.
Gerry is also helping to design trade events including the House of Peroni which has been running throughout July in Portland Place, London. It has brought together visionaries from Italian design, art, fashion, photography, film, music and food and drink, including bespoke cocktails designed by Gerry (pictured below).
He is also delivering workshops on “Servito Con Stile” as well as sharing with customers new trends in the bar industry.
Sam Rhodes, director of customer marketing for the beer’s UK distributor Miller Brands, said: “We have launched the ‘Servito con Stile’ training programme to highlight the perfect serve and ensure outlets provide the best possible drinking experience.
“The programme will help maintain and grow Peroni Nastro Azzurro’s brand image as the ultimate style beer for trendsetting bars, offering licensees an additional way of trading customers up to take advantage of the higher margins World Beers like Peroni Nastro Azzurro offer.”
Gerry created six cocktails for The House of Peroni inspired by “the essence of Peroni Nastro Azzurro”, whether through a reduction of the beer, an inclusion of the beer itself or some of the beer’s natural ingredients.
The Nonna Rosa is a pink champagne cocktail that has been given a twist by adding basil and a Peroni reduction.
For the Dell’Isola, Gerry mixed the traditional Averna amaro aperitif with a beer reduction and champagne plus lemon juice and peach liqueur, with a maize and sugar mix on the rim, inspired by Peroni’s ingredients.
The On Thyme is a Martini-style cocktail using homemade Peroni bitters infused with blueberries and thyme which provide a raw and aromatic taste. Also containing gin, Martini Bianco and St-Germain elderflower liqueur, it is delicately flavoured with lavender and topped with a rose petal.
The Bergamo Ice Tea is a layered drink featuring Peroni infused with Earl Grey tea, inspired by the peach iced teas of southern Italy. It also uses tequila, apricot, passion fruit, camomile syrup, Fernet Branca and peach bitters.
The Summer of 63 uses Liquore di Limone, the high-quality limoncello created by Gerry’s father, Salvatore Calabrese, who heads Salvatore’s Bar at Playboy London. It combines the limoncello with a Peroni reduction, Disaronno, raspberries, blueberries, ginger and lemon juice.
The Blue Ribbon Smash is Gerry’s take on a classic sour, with an egg white base infused with homemade Peroni reduction syrup. It also contains raisins and is topped up with Peroni.
