Story of Spirit: Aperitifs

Chris is joined by a very special guest, writer, researcher, and drinks historian Wayne Curtis author of; And a Bottle of Rum.  Together, they examine the rise, fall and rebirth of a spirit category that played a crucial role in the story of not only the Caribbean but America as we know it today.

Pairs to New York, one way. The second episode of The Grand Encounter, the exclusive mini-series by Grand Marnier, takes you to the Big Apple, where host Carina Soto Velasquez meets Takuma Watanabe: a movie-enthusiast and thorough researcher, Watanabe opened up his own venue in 2022, Martiny’s in Gramercy, immediately conquering New York through spotless hospitality and […]

Campari is more than an aperitif. With such unmistakable characteristics, the iconic red liquid has long been a source of passionate inspiration.    Drinks like Rosita, that Gary Regan adapted from a 1978 book (with reposado tequila instead of gin, and the addition of dry vermouth and bitters), the fortunate accident at Bar Basso in Milan […]

The journey begins. Grand Marnier’s new mini-series The Grand Encounter premieres with its first episode, and it’s already one you cannot miss. Host Carina Velasquez is joined by Hugo Togni, bar manager and co-owner of Bar Pompette in Toronto, Canada, which he opened in 2021 and quickly established as one of the most sought-after drinking […]

It’s almost time to raise the curtain on Grand Marnier’s new mini-series, The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar. Three episodes that will delve into the merging of two different worlds, each explained and brought to life by industry-leading professionals. Before diving into the episodes, let’s get to know our protagonists. Carina Soto Velasquez will be […]

It’s not just about the drinks. A bar is the subtle line that slightly separates stories, made of people, experiences, memories and projects. It’s where cocktails are silent witnesses of magic unfolding, the one that occurs when ideas and backgrounds merge: encounters, the unexpected combinations that happen together with everything that comes into their creations. […]