An icon born out of red passion, Campari – the flagship brand of its namesake group and core of the beloved Negroni – brings back its search for the next Campari Red Hands Asia Champion with Campari Red Hands Asia 2024. Returning after a 5-year hiatus to unite and inspire the bartending community, the competition series is set to pit teams of top bartenders from key Asian markets for the prestigious title of Campari Red Hands Asia Champion.
Adopting the teamed-up approach in recognition of the collaborative spirit and synergy behind
the bar, this year’s competition is themed “Cocktail & Senses” to spur creative incorporations
of any of the 5 senses – sight, smell, taste, touch and sound. Participating teams will then
undergo a 3-stage process consisting of a video presentation (Round 1), a month-long showcase
of 2 or more campaign exclusive cocktails for consumers (Round 2), before culminating in a
local showdown (Round 3) where one representative from the winning team will represent their
country and local bar at the grand final in Milan.
In Singapore, 15 teams have made it to Round 2 representing bars including Bar Trigona,
Reka:Bar, BISO, Bar Mizukami and more. The bars will now showcase limited-time-only cocktails
available from now till 29 August, before culminating in the final on 18 September.
THE ORIGIN OF RED HANDS ASIA
Unmistakably striking with a red hue that transforms every cocktail in appearance and flavour,
Red Hands is in essence, a term for bartenders who boast a creative flair that leverages the
iconic aperitivo as the star ingredient. Initially launched in 2018 as the Campari Bartender
Competition Asia which ran for 2 years, the programme brings together masters of mixology to
showcase their passion by going beyond creative boundaries to achieve the extraordinary.
Fast forward to 2024 and revived as Campari Red Hands Asia, the competition aims to celebrate
bartenders that embody the essence and boldness of Campari. It has now expanded to a global
scale to leave a legacy in Campari’s history.
CAMPARI RED HANDS ASIA 2024
Recognising that teamwork is integral to bars as menus are typically devised in collaborative
fashion, this year’s competition switches the usual single-entry format to a 3-person team. This
change allows entrants to promote camaraderie within teams to accurately represent their
respective bars, while offering global audiences a peek into the drinking experience with
Campari at its centre.
In search of the next aperitivo icon, teams will need to present creations that could extend the
branches of the Negroni Tree which includes now iconic staples from the past, present and
future like Americano, Boulevardier and
Sbagliato. Centred around “Cocktail & Senses”,submission criteria will require 2 ground rules – the use of Campari, alongside the creative incorporation of one of the senses. Team entrants are encouraged to expand their horizons with 3 primary creations that are each intricate, sensorial and representative of their bar’s philosophy.
Following a video presentation round, shortlisted creations will then be released to the public
via a month-long capsule menu. The competition will then proceed to a local final before
culminating in a regional showdown in Milan, the home of Campari come November 2024.
CAMPARI RED HANDS 2024: MALAYSIA
Set to go live from now till 29 August with a final that coincides with Negroni Week 2024 on 18
September, local team entrants include a round-up of 15 bars including:
● BISO Cocktail Bar (BISO)
● Aalam Cocktail Bar (Cocktail Rebels)
● Here & Now
● The Mandarin Cocktail Bar (Mandarin)
● The Nest Cocktail Bar (The Nest)
● Reka:Bar (2 Teams: R&R and Bittersweet)
● CONTI’ Kuala Lumpur (CONTI’)
● Ikiya 2.0
● The Water
● Chez Chez Penang (Chez Chez)
● Rhu Bar Langkawi (Four Seasons LGK)
● Te Amo KL (J&J)
● Bar Trigona (The Marinos)
● Bar Mizukami (Two Passionate Souls)
With a brief to showcase the iconic aperitif’s versatility that could branch out the Negroni
Family Tree, each bar will feature at least 2 cocktails that drinkers can indulge from now till
29 August. Following the capsule menu period, teams moving forward to the local finals will
then be announced by 30 August.
ABOUT CAMPARI
Campari is a contemporary and charismatic classic. The secret recipe, which has remained
unchanged, originated in Novara in 1860 and is the base for some of the most famous cocktails
around the world, Campari is an alcoholic spirit obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs,
aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. With its vibrant red colour, intense aroma and
inspiring flavour, Campari has always been a symbol of intrigue and pleasure, which unfurls
itself into a captivating drinking experience. These are the values that have made the Campari
brand famous throughout the world as an icon of passionate Italian style and excellence.
ABOUT NEGRONI
It was around the year 1919 in Florence when Count Camillo Negroni contemplated ordering an
Americano cocktail but decided it was time for a change. He requested it with a touch of gin
instead of soda, inspired by his last trip to London and its prevalent gin scene. The bartender
was pleased to honour Count Camillo Negroni’s request and added an orange garnish rather
than the lemon wedge of the Americano to signify the new drink he had created. In Florence,
the Count’s ‘usual’ became known as Count Negroni’s Americano, or the “Americano with a
touch of gin”, but whatever it was referred to as back then, the Negroni was born.
The Negroni is now one of the most famous contemporary classic cocktails. Anywhere you go
in the world, you will find a mixologist who can make you the iconic Negroni. The original
recipe, the perfectly balanced combination of equal parts of Campari, Red Vermouth and
London Dry gin, is a century old and continues to be enjoyed today. The International
Bartenders Association (IBA) lists Campari as an official ingredient of the Negroni, and thus,
there is no Negroni without Campari! For more information visit www.campari.com.