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Kicking off the 106th edition of Pitti Uomo in style.
Last Monday, kissed by the famous waning Tuscan summer sunlight on the eve of Pitti Uomo 106, we hosted an intimate and elegant creative black tie aperitivo in partnership with our friends from The Dalmore and Four Seasons Florence.
As veteran attendees of the biannual menswear trade show, we know how intense the week can be so our wish was to provide our guests a relaxed, sophisticated, and luxurious experience to ease into Pitti proper as well as an opportunity for old friends to reconnect and new friendships to be formed.
Set on 11 acres just a bit of the tourist path, The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze offers an oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the city in the summertime — a time machine back to Medici Florence, if you will. It’s a stately 16th century villa on the expansive private Gherardesca gardens, a tranquil haven of statues, fountains, centuries-old trees, and even a small Ionic temple. Truly a one-of-a-kind setting and perfect for our event.
Our evening began in the hotel’s elegant Atrium Bar, where guests were welcomed with a choice of two signature cocktails featuring The Dalmore’s 12 Year expression created especially for the event by the Four Seasons’ incredible bar staff. “I like to use unconventional and unique ingredients to create innovative cocktails and surprise our guests,” said Edoardo Sandri, Head Mixologist.
And Signore Sandri did not disappoint.
The first cocktail, cheekily titled the “Whisky Wonka,” was a riff on a classic Old Fashioned and featured The Dalmore 12, which had been infused with a chocolate donut for no less than three days, playing perfectly into the notes of the whisky. The second cocktail, called “Save The Fizz,” was a refreshing riff on a classic champagne cocktail and once again utilized The Dalmore 12 and a specially-made raspberry and mint cordial topped with champagne and finally misted with ginger aromatics. The delicious passed canapés were designed by the hotel’s food and beverage staff to pair perfectly with both cocktails.
Following an introduction by Michael Andrews, CEO of Michael Andrews Bespoke, He Spoke Style Founder Brian Sacawa welcomed our guests, toasting, “to nights we’ll always remember with friends we’ll never forget.” One of those friends, Craig Bridger, Head Of Advocacy for The Dalmore, then provided a short masterclass on the three expressions — the Dalmore 18, King Alexander III, and Cigar Malt Reserve — guests were enjoying throughout the evening.
On a night as gorgeous as this one, it was only natural that guests eventually flowed out of the Artium Bar and into the gardens to enjoy the sunset, conversation, friendship, and exquisite cigars generously provided by Davidoff. It was truly an evening to remember and one we will certainly never forget.
A huge thank you to our sponsors, the teams at The Dalmore and Four Seasons Hotel Florence, our partners Michael Andrews Bespoke and Angel Ramos NY, and of course, all of our amazing guests for making this event an overwhelming success (and one we hope to continue at future editions as well).
