The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar With Carina Soto Velasquez and Hugo Togni of Toronto’s Bar Pompette

Grand Marnier is unapologetically Parisian, but what does that mean when expanded to the rest of the world? Discover the first episode of The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar featuring Carina Soto Velasquez and Hugo Togni from Bar Pompette in Toronto, as they discuss how Paris influences the world in the hospitality industry and how Togni brings his experience as a French bartender to a foreign country.

Grand Marnier’s Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar series is created in collaboration with renowned bartenders across the globe. Grand Marnier was born out of an unexpected mix of ingredients and brings together the heritage of cognac with Bigaradia oranges to create a Grand Encounter.  Bringing this concept to life on screen, each episode will pair industry-leading bartenders with host Carina Soto Velasquez, to explore the marriage of unlikely elements and how these unexpected fusions can create something special.  

Colombian-born Soto Velasquez has stirred up the Parisian cocktail scene with her innovative approach to mixology and bar culture. An inspiration to a new generation in the global bar scene, her expansive knowledge of global culture and ingredients led to her pioneering the Paris drink scene and encouraging the wider bar community’s expansion of their minds, their practices and their communities. “Working with Grand Marnier on this video series has been very insightful, showing how you can nourish our bar industry by being authentic to yourself and breaking existing standards to bring meaningful experiences to the community,” says Soto Velasquez. “As a bar entrepreneur myself, being able to interview these incredible minds on their journeys is quite special. I can relate to their experiences, and it is always very inspiring to see how bartenders keep pushing this industry forward, one cocktail at a time“

“I believe the French and Parisian influence can be seen across the world, and when French and other cultural moments come together, they can only be enhanced to create something extraordinary.”
— Hugo Togni

Each episode of this series features two seemingly opposing elements in the drinks world brought together by an expert guest bartender, while in discussion with Soto Velasquez on a range of topics, from the cultural impact of dive bars to how the world should embrace being more unapologetically Parisian.

Episode themes include “Paris + The World,” “Classic + Modern,” and “Elevated + Local,” each of which champions the Grand Encounter of two opposing elements—across bartenders, bar concepts and even serves—and how these contrasting elements create something exceptional.

Grand Marnier has been a French liqueur enjoyed the world over for the past 200 years, bringing French style to a range of cocktails. The Grand Marnier bottle has become an essential part of any global bartender’s toolkit, an ingredient that can elevate, inspire and transform cocktails. Celebrating the DNA of the product—unexpected ingredients coming together to create something exciting—each video explores how this concept is present in the day to day, and within the wider drinks community.  

Commencing with “Paris + The World,” the first episode of The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar features bartender Hugo Togni exploring what makes Grand Marnier—and Togni—so quintessentially Parisian. The episode explores both Togni and Grand Marnier’s French heritage, with Togni creating the Margarita Suzette, a playful cocktail reminiscent of the traditional crepe Suzette made with Grand Marnier, and the hero serve of the modern-day, The Grand Margarita. A creation fusing the past and the present, the Margarita Suzette celebrates Grand Marnier and chef-turned-bartender Togni’s Influence on both the cocktail and culinary worlds.  

A city known for being a leader in the global bar world, Paris’ culture and passion for ingredients has led to three out of the Worlds 50 Best bars hailing from the French capital. As the Summer of 2024 looks to the Paris Olympics for inspiration and illuminates French culture, Togni’s take on what learnings the global bar community can take from the French, delivers a lesson in joie de vivre. “My French heritage is fundamental to my day-to-day, no matter where I am in the world,” says Togni. “I believe the French and Parisian influence can be seen across the world, and when French and other cultural moments come together, they can only be enhanced to create something extraordinary.”

The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar series is launching on Grand Marnier’s Instagram, Campari Academy website and Campari Academy’s Youtube channel.