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 Marie-Claude and Jean Paul Lafragette as a blend of French cognac, passion fruit juice, and other exotic fruit juices. Finally before it is bottled, the liqueur is blessed by a Catholic priest.^{[citation needed]}

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).

[edit] History

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Alizé was first created when one prized exotic jams and juices family joined forces with a prized 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 wind' 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 Shakur, came out with his video hit called "Thug Passion", and rapped about Alizé and Cristal. 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."^[1]

The packaging of Alize has undergone two major changes: a new bottle shape and an updated label with foil imprinting and a larger name in 2002^[2], followed by a frosted bottle and silk screened label in 2006.

[edit] 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.^[3]

"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.

[edit] Awards

Alizé offerings have had some success at spirit ratings competitions. Past years' medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition include:

• 2008: Gold Passion, Bronze; Wild Passion, Bronze; Red Passion, Silver ^[4]
• 2005: Gold Passion, Gold; Wild Passion, Silver; Cognac VSOP, Silver; Red Passion, Bronze; Bleu, Bronze; Cognac VS, Bronze^[5]
• 2004: Cognac VSOP, Gold; Gold Passion, Bronze; Cognac VS, Bronze^[6]
• 2003: Cognac VS, Silver; Cognac VSOP, Silver; Gold Passion, Bronze; Wild Passion, Bronze^[7]
• 2001: Cognac VS, Double Gold; Gold Passion, Gold; Cognac VSOP, Silver; Red Passion, Bronze^[8]
• 2000: Gold Passion, Gold; Red Passion, Silver; Cognac VS, Bronze; Cognac VSOP, Bronze^[9]

In 2006, Wine Enthusiast ranked Alizé Bleu one of the 50 "Best Buy" Spirits with a rating of Very Good (85-89) Recommended.^[4] This accolade is based on reasonable pricing, extraordinary value, customer satisfaction, quality & its availability.

[edit] Varieties

[edit] 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.

[edit] Cognac

Alizé Cognacs were introduced to the market in 2000 in two grades, VS and VSOP.^[10] The cognacs are composed of eaux-de-vie 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.^[11]

[edit] 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 Hpnotiq.

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.^[12]

[edit] In cocktails

Rap 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.^[13]

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.

[edit] In popular culture

Alizé was mentioned in 30 top 10 singles from 1995-2002.^{[citation needed]}

American Rapper Jay-Z's 'Can I Get A...' mentions "A lotta Prada, Alizé and Vodka,"

Nikki Parker from The Parkers mentions Alizé in numerous episodes of the series.

Rapper Nas mentions Alize in his track Memory Lane on the 1994 album Illmatic

Comedian Katt Williams says in one of his stand-up routines that he only has Alizé in his house because of the ladies he 'entertains', and not for his consumption. "I don't drink no mutha fuckin' Alizé. But bitches do."

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.^[14]

The popular St. Louis based band Femme Fatality references Alizé in 2 songs on their new album. Additionally one of the songs is titled "Yey and Alizé is Really Dope".

A bottle of Alizé can be seen in the mini-bar of the model home featured in Arrested Development.

Biggie Smalls mentions Alize in his song "Juicy".

Alizé is one of the featured beverage choices for "Low Class" passengers on the movie Soul Plane.

Rapper, Agallah (also known as 8-Off the Assassin or Don Bishop), released "Alize for Dolo" (1996, EastWest) (as 8-Off) as a single.

Alizé is mentioned in the Bassline song "Drinking Chardonnay" by DJ Lappell featuring QD.

Saigon (rapper) mentions Alizé in the song "L.O.V.E". He raps "Lets see what you sayin' after this Henny and Alizé"

The Quad City DJs song "Come On Ride the Train" includes the line "Graduated from booze, up to Alizé."

Bashy mentions "backing off Blue Alizé, energized off red bull" in his song '4 O'Clock'.

Ian Tyrrel from the band Snack Pharm got arrested driving with an open bottle of Alizé in Miami in early 2005. The incident is described in his song "Beta Skeen Blues".

50 Cent raps in 'High All The Time' (2003), "I don't need Dom Perignon, I don't need Cris', Tanquaray, Alize, I don't need shit... Nigga, I'm high all the time, I smoke that good shit, I'm high all the time and I'm on some hood shit,"

Jasper Gray mentions Alize in his monologue 'Don't Die': "I'm high all the time, from smokin' that wine, Alize and Henny' got me feeling mighty fine. I hope I never have to hear Led Zeppelin again!"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Alizé Official Website
• Alizé Portfolio and Alizé Cognac Portfolio at Kobrand Wine.com