Alizé
Encyclopedia
Alizé is a line of alcoholic beverages. It is produced in several varieties which can be consumed "neat" or can be used in mixed drinks. As of 2007, the line consists of three cognac
-based liqueurs, two vodka-based liqueurs, and two grades of cognac.
The first beverage in the line, Alizé Gold Passion, was created in 1984 by Spice Jackson and Fame Fortune as a blend of French cognac, passion fruit juice, and other exotic fruit juices.
Alizé Gold Passion, Red Passion and Wild Passion are 16% alcohol
(32 proof). Vodka-containing varieties Alizé Bleu and Alizé Rose are 20% alcohol (40 proof). Alizé VS and VSOP cognacs are 40% alcohol (80 proof).
' in French. In 1986, Alizé Gold Passion was introduced in the United States.
By the mid-1990s, Alizé had gained widespread popularity among an urban audience. One brand director described its rise thus:
The packaging of Alizé has undergone two major changes: a new bottle shape and an updated label with foil imprinting and a larger name in 2002, followed by a frosted bottle and silk screened label in 2006.
"Queen of All Media" Wendy Williams
has been the spokesperson for Alizé since 2006, which began with a 5-city national tour called Alizé LIVE! Presents The Wendy Williams Experience
, highlighting her signature radio show.
competitions. Past years' medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition include:
In 2006, Wine Enthusiast ranked Alizé Bleu one of the 50 "Best Buy" Spirits with a rating of Very Good (85-89) Recommended. This accolade is based on reasonable pricing, extraordinary value, customer satisfaction, quality & its availability.
Alizé Red Passion, introduced in 1998, is a combination of the original Gold Passion with cranberry and hints of peach.
Alizé Wild Passion, introduced in 2002, has the flavors of mango, passion fruit and pink grapefruit blended with fine French cognac.
from the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois and Bons Bois areas of the Cognac and are notable for their use of the Folle Blanche
grape.
.
Alizé Rose, introduced in 2007, is the first vodka-only based liqueur in the Alizé line. It is a blend of French vodka, strawberry, lychee
and rose petals.
artists that enjoy or have endorsed the drink have created their own mixed drinks based on Alizé. Notable artist-created drinks include Tupac Shakur
's "Thug Passion", which is a blend of Alizé Gold Passion and Cristal, and Sean "Puffy" Combs
' "P'Daddy Alizé Special", which combines Alizé Red Passion, vodka, lime juice and triple sec.
Each variety of Alizé has a signature cocktail used in its on-premise advertising:
mentions Alizé in numerous episodes of the series. Rapper Tupac Shakur
frequently mentions the beverage in his lyrics, even writing the song "Thug Passion" after the eponymous drink made of equal parts Alize and Cristal champagne.
Rapper, Agallah
(also known as 8-Off the Assassin or Don Bishop), released "Alize for Dolo" (1996, EastWest) (as 8-Off) as a single.
Justin Timberlake
, while featuring on The Lonely Island
track, "3-Way (The Golden Rule)" mentions Alizé.
Cognac (drink)
Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....
-based liqueurs, two vodka-based liqueurs, and two grades of cognac.
The first beverage in the line, Alizé Gold Passion, was created in 1984 by Spice Jackson and Fame Fortune as a blend of French cognac, passion fruit juice, and other exotic fruit juices.
Alizé Gold Passion, Red Passion and Wild Passion are 16% alcohol
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
(32 proof). Vodka-containing varieties Alizé Bleu and Alizé Rose are 20% alcohol (40 proof). Alizé VS and VSOP cognacs are 40% alcohol (80 proof).
History
Alizé was first created when one exotic jams and juices family joined forces with a cognac family to create a new spirits category called Exotic Cordials. In 1984 Alizé was introduced to the Kobrand Corporation at the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America convention in New Orleans. A common company known as L & L was created to produce and distribute Alizé, which means 'a gentle trade windTrade wind
The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator...
' in French. In 1986, Alizé Gold Passion was introduced in the United States.
By the mid-1990s, Alizé had gained widespread popularity among an urban audience. One brand director described its rise thus:
"The cognac-based fruit-flavor liqueur idea really originated around 1986 with the introduction of Kobrand's Alizé, which started out selling for about $25 a bottle, and was being targeted directly at 45- to 55-year-old white women. At the time, it seemed to make good sense. It was an easy product to drink, kind of delicious with passion fruit in it, and it had a classy cognac image. But it sat on a shelf for about 8 years and didn't move. The intended target audience just wasn't buying in.
Then, about 1994, it was decided to liquidate the inventory. The shelf price was dropped to around $16 a bottle. Coincidentally, this was the same time the product began to appear in rap videos. In particular, the internationally-famous rap legend Tupac ShakurTupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, came out with his video hit called "Thug Passion"All Eyez on MeAll Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
, and rapped about Hennessy, Alize and Moet. These three brands are still riding the waves of this notoriety today. Four weeks after this hit came out, Shakur was assassinated, and these three brands just took off."
The packaging of Alizé has undergone two major changes: a new bottle shape and an updated label with foil imprinting and a larger name in 2002, followed by a frosted bottle and silk screened label in 2006.
Advertising
Throughout the 1990s Alizé advertising involved promotions like a Culinary Mentorship Challenge, which offered the grand prize of a month-long study program at Le Cordon Bleu, and Operation Redhead, a collaboration with Manic Panic that chose 250 winners the opportunity to become redheads via a special-edition hue of hair dye."Queen of All Media" Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams (radio host)
Wendy Williams Hunter is an American media personality and New York Times bestselling author. She calls herself the "Queen Of All Media" and hosts her own syndicated talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. Williams has gained notoriety for her on-air spats with celebrities...
has been the spokesperson for Alizé since 2006, which began with a 5-city national tour called Alizé LIVE! Presents The Wendy Williams Experience
The Wendy Williams Experience
The Wendy Williams Experience is a gossip show on Vh1. Wendy Williams was mainly shown hosting her radio station . Charlamagne was the co-host. On the show, Wendy spoke about gossip, fashion, the latest Celebrity news, and gave advice to callers. She also interviewed celebrities. and is noted for...
, highlighting her signature radio show.
Awards
Alizé offerings have had some success at spirit ratingsSpirit ratings
With a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...
competitions. Past years' medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition include:
- 2008: Gold Passion, Bronze; Wild Passion, Bronze; Red Passion, Silver
- 2005: Gold Passion, Gold; Wild Passion, Silver; Cognac VSOP, Silver; Red Passion, Bronze; Bleu, Bronze; Cognac VS, Bronze
- 2004: Cognac VSOP, Gold; Gold Passion, Bronze; Cognac VS, Bronze
- 2003: Cognac VS, Silver; Cognac VSOP, Silver; Gold Passion, Bronze; Wild Passion, Bronze
- 2001: Cognac VS, Double Gold; Gold Passion, Gold; Cognac VSOP, Silver; Red Passion, Bronze
- 2000: Gold Passion, Gold; Red Passion, Silver; Cognac VS, Bronze; Cognac VSOP, Bronze
In 2006, Wine Enthusiast ranked Alizé Bleu one of the 50 "Best Buy" Spirits with a rating of Very Good (85-89) Recommended. This accolade is based on reasonable pricing, extraordinary value, customer satisfaction, quality & its availability.
Cognac-based liqueurs
Alizé Gold Passion, the "original" Alizé, is a blend of passion fruit juice and other exotic fruits blended with fine French cognac. It was introduced in 1986.Alizé Red Passion, introduced in 1998, is a combination of the original Gold Passion with cranberry and hints of peach.
Alizé Wild Passion, introduced in 2002, has the flavors of mango, passion fruit and pink grapefruit blended with fine French cognac.
Cognac
Alizé Cognacs were introduced to the market in 2000 in two grades, VS and VSOP. The cognacs are composed of eaux-de-vieEau de vie
An eau de vie is a clear, colorless fruit brandy that is produced by means of fermentation and double distillation...
from the Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois and Bons Bois areas of the Cognac and are notable for their use of the Folle Blanche
Folle Blanche
Folle Blanche was the traditional grape variety of the Cognac and Armagnac regions of France. It is also known as Picpoule as well as Gros Plant and Enrageat Blanc...
grape.
Vodka-based liqueurs
Alizé Bleu, introduced in 2004, is a blend of premium French vodka, cognac, passion fruit, cherry and ginger. Its primary competition on the market is HpnotiqHpnotiq
Hpnotiq liqueur is a blend of natural fruit juices, premium vodka and a touch of cognac. It is 34 proof and is available in over 70 countries worldwide.-History:...
.
Alizé Rose, introduced in 2007, is the first vodka-only based liqueur in the Alizé line. It is a blend of French vodka, strawberry, lychee
Lychee
The lychee is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It is a tropical and subtropical fruit tree native to Southern China and Southeast Asia, and now cultivated in many parts of the world...
and rose petals.
Rhum-based liqueurs
Alizé Coco élégance, introduced in 2011, is a blend of premium rhum, coconut, passion fruit, and spices.In cocktails
RapRapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
artists that enjoy or have endorsed the drink have created their own mixed drinks based on Alizé. Notable artist-created drinks include Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
's "Thug Passion", which is a blend of Alizé Gold Passion and Cristal, and Sean "Puffy" Combs
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
' "P'Daddy Alizé Special", which combines Alizé Red Passion, vodka, lime juice and triple sec.
Each variety of Alizé has a signature cocktail used in its on-premise advertising:
- "The Alizé Transfusion": Alizé Gold Passion, coconut rum, and cranberry juice.
- "Passion & 'Pagne": Alizé Red Passion and Taittinger Champagne.
- "Wild Cosmopolitan": Alizé Wild Passion, citrus vodka, fresh lime juice and cranberry juice;
- "Bleu Breeze": Alizé Bleu and pineapple juice.
- "The Ginger Rose Martini": Alizé Rose with ginger ale.
- "Golden Delicious": Alizé Gold Passion, apple schnapps, vodka and triple sec.
- "Berry Breeze": Alizé Red Passion, strawberry vodka, cranberry juice & lemon-lime soda;
- "Mango Breeze": Alizé Wild Passion, vodka and mango juice.
- "Bleu Royale": Alizé Bleu, vodka, coconut rum and club soda.
In popular culture
Nikki Parker from The ParkersThe Parkers
The Parkers is an American sitcom . A spin-off of UPN's Moesha, The Parkers featured the mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker . The Parkers' signature "Heeyyy" greeting made its way into popular vernacular in the early 2000s.-Premise:The series centered around a mother and daughter who...
mentions Alizé in numerous episodes of the series. Rapper Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
frequently mentions the beverage in his lyrics, even writing the song "Thug Passion" after the eponymous drink made of equal parts Alize and Cristal champagne.
Rapper, Agallah
Agallah
Agallah , born Angel Aguilar, is a Puerto Rican and Filipino-American rapper who was a member of the The Diplomats-affiliated group Purple City and the group Propain campaign. He was formerly known as 8-Off Agallah, but changed the name because it was controversial; 8-Off is a variation of the name...
(also known as 8-Off the Assassin or Don Bishop), released "Alize for Dolo" (1996, EastWest) (as 8-Off) as a single.
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, while featuring on The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island is an American comedy troupe composed of Akiva "Kiv" Schaffer, Jorma "Jorm" Taccone, and David Andrew "Andy" Samberg, best known for their comedic music. Originally from Berkeley, California, the group is currently based in New York City. The group broke out due to their...
track, "3-Way (The Golden Rule)" mentions Alizé.
External links
- Alizé Official Website
- Alizé Official Facebook
- Alizé Official Twitter
- Alizé Portfolio and Alizé Cognac Portfolio at Kobrand Wine.com