Campari changes formula?

[Tiare]

To my horror i read on eGullet that Campari now has a new formula..or at least its believed so..a watery version of what it was..
Due to the former use of carmine coloring they now have switched to artificial coloring.
On the old bottles the label on the back will say 'contains carmine' and artificial color on the new ones.
Whatever it is that makes the flavor of the new Campari more bland..maybe its the proof difference between the bottles sold in Europe and those for the US market?

Before bottling, the alcohol level in various batches of Campari is adjusted —28.5 percent (57 proof) for Eastern Europe, and 24 percent (48 proof) for the American market. Bottles destined for the U.S. are also labeled "Aperitivo" instead of "Bitter."

Does the coloring agents really changes the taste?
Its said that the flavor in the newer version comes at you all at once, while the older version builds in layers.
I have been drinking Campari for more than 20 years..its my all time fav non rum drink...and i really hope the flavor has not changed..
I have not yet tried the new formula with artificial coloring.Got to check the bottles in the shop tomorrow and buy one to compare with my old bottle, if its the new they have now.

Here is a link to show the old and new bottles:

http://www.beverageworld.com/content/view/6006/150/

Here is a link to the history of Campari:

http://www.saveur.com/drink/spirits/campari-good-and-bitter-49540.html

[Tiare]

Now i know for sure that they have changed the formula..and i`m NOT happy!:mad:

I went to the shop after work today and discovered that there were only the new bottles on the shelf. I bought one and back home again i compared it with my old bottle. And there really is a difference..

The old Campari tastes Campari while the new has a bland and also a more sweet taste..

I compared them neat. I will have to make a comparasion with some ice and soda as well. But gheee i`m sooooo disappointed!

I want the real bug juice back!

Got to stock up on the old bottle from EBay..

[Tiare]

For those who are interested in this matter:

http://explorethepour.blogspot.com/

This is a major concern as the acquisition of spirits continues worldwide.

Now the old bug juice formula versus the new is going to be examined in labs.

Link to the latest discussion on eGullet:

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=112928&st=60

[rumdog007]

With the help of some friends, we set up a double blind test and had a 100% identification between the 2 different formulas. There was a 75% certainty of which was old and which was new. There were 8 tasters. The most common characterization of the new was that it initially had a stronger taste with a tad more sweetness. There is more viscosity to the new. The aftertaste drifted away from a balanced taste to pronounced bitterness. Overall, the sublety and balance of the old formula is almost absent in the new formula. I was so startled by this revelation that I had a distributor friend of mine locate 6 cases of the old formula and bought it up!

[Don Piero]

Tiare, thanks for bringing this to my attention, as I too am a big fan of this great Aperitif. I currently have two bottles (1 and a 1/2 bottles) at home with the opened one being the original recipe and the unopened taller one having the new recipe with Sunset Yellow FCF and Brilliant Blue FCF assuming these are the artificial colours.

I should return the new bottle as a protest.

[Tiare]

Quoted from egullet:
Quick update: after an informal store survey in SW Calgary, there are two versions available.
One version listing "Alcohol, Aromatic Herbs and Carmine" as ingredients, and another version listing several herbs (such as Amaranth), and two artificial dyes.