Punt e Mes

ONE POINT OF SWEETNESS AND HALF A POINT OF BITTERNESS.

The highlight of any evening gathering: enjoying a Punt e Mes aperitif in company.

A legend in history. More The story goes that on 19 April 1870 , a stockbroker, caught up in a discussion with colleagues whilst in the Carpano wine shop about the increase in share prices on that day – one and a half points – ordered his usual Carpano vermouth but asked for the barman to add half a measure of bitter, using the regional expression “Punt e Mes”. The drink immediately became popular as an aperitif before lunch, as recalled by the barman of the time Maurizio Boeris.

THE LEGENDARY GESTURE

The bizzarre origin of this new name came into common usage not long after, with “regulars” of the wine shop ordering Punt e Mes with a gesture. More Whereby they would only need to raise their thumb to mean one Point and trace a straight line upwards in mid-air to mean a Half point for the barman to understand straight away that they wanted a Punt e Mes. It was a favourite drink of the founder of FIAT, Giovanni Agnelli, as he recalled in his memoirs of 1916.

STRAIGHT OR MIXED

Punt e Mes is delicious served straight with a slice of orange peel but is also perfect as a base for cocktails such as the famous MITO, the Manhattan or the legendary 70′s Punt e Mes.

A JOURNEY INTO TASTE

Punt e Mes has a golden orange color with topaz tones, herby aromas and dark red, black dahlia with vermilion shades. The initial taste is one of sweetness, characterised by an intriguing accent of orange. This is followed by the characteristically bitter taste of the quina and ends on a sweet note.