Italian espresso liqueur Borghetti and New York-based nail care brand Chillhouse have launched a limited-edition co-branded product — "Espresso After Hours" Chill Tips — retailing at $16 and timed to the holiday party season. The collaboration links Borghetti's signature 30-second Espresso Martini serve directly to Chillhouse's press-on nail format, positioning both as low-effort additions to pre-event rituals.
The Product and Distribution
The "Espresso After Hours" kit features 24 press-on nails in a long almond shape with a brown cat-eye finish and swirling detailing meant to evoke the visual of a freshly poured espresso martini. Each set includes a dual-sided buffer and file, cuticle stick, and nail glue. At $16, the kit sits at the accessible end of the premium press-on segment — a category that has seen rapid retail expansion over the past three years as brands including Chillhouse have secured shelf space at Target, Walmart, CVS, and Urban Outfitters. The Chill Tips are available at Chillhouse.com and at the brand's flagship location at 75 Varick Street in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.
Borghetti, distributed in the United States by Branca USA — the import arm of Milan-based Fratelli Branca Distillerie — is sold at major food and beverage retailers nationwide, including Kroger, Total Wine & More, and Binny's Beverage Depot, as well as through on-demand delivery platforms DoorDash and Instacart. The brand's broad retail footprint means the espresso martini angle can be reinforced at point of sale across grocery and specialty liquor channels simultaneously with the Chillhouse activation.
Why the Espresso Martini Category Matters
The espresso martini's resurgence as a mainstream on-premise and at-home cocktail has been well-documented across the spirits and foodservice industries. Bartenders and consumers alike have driven vodka-and-espresso-liqueur combinations to the top of cocktail popularity rankings, creating a commercially attractive moment for brands competing in the espresso liqueur segment. For Borghetti — which markets itself as the original Italian espresso liqueur and the category's volume leader — the partnership with Chillhouse targets a digitally engaged, style-conscious consumer segment during the highest-volume retail weeks of the year.
"With Borghetti, we believe that the best experiences don't have to be complicated," said Heidi Chen, VP of Marketing at Branca USA. "The espresso martini has become a go-to part of a night out, whether it's at a bar or before you even leave the house. Ours comes together in just 30 seconds, and partnering with Chillhouse is a fun way to bring that same simplicity to another part of the getting-ready ritual."
Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton, Founder and CEO of Chillhouse, framed the tie-in as consistent with the brand's self-care positioning. "We love the idea of adding something special to the getting-ready ritual, especially during the holiday season," she said.
Sector Context
Branded lifestyle collaborations have become a standard mechanism for spirits labels seeking to build cultural visibility outside traditional on-premise and retail advertising channels. For Branca USA's portfolio — which also includes Fernet-Branca, the leading amaro by volume in the United States, and Antica Formula vermouth — the Borghetti-Chillhouse activation follows a broader industry pattern of pairing beverages with adjacent wellness or beauty brands to reach younger demographics. The model complements category-level growth trends in premium spirits retail that have made co-branded limited editions an increasingly common tool for driving trial and social media reach during the competitive holiday window. Operators and buyers tracking seasonal beverage promotions in foodservice will note that the 30-second preparation claim is likely aimed as much at on-premise staff and home-entertainment consumers as at traditional spirits marketing audiences.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
