I wanted to create a gin to dedicate to the people of Portofino, fully made in Italy. That’s when I started to get interested in the local Ligurian botanicals. Extensive studying and research was carried out. After looking at distilleries in Italy, I involved Alessandro Briola as chief financial officer and Chris Egger as chief marketing officer. Preneste sa na voňavé pobrežie talianskej Ligúrie do rybárskej dediny Portofino. Malebná dedina s pestrofarebnými domčekmi a tyrkysovým morom bola inšpiráciou pre vytvorenie oceneniami overeného talianskeho ginu Portofino Dry Gin. It was a long and new process to get the proper certification to expand sales to the U.S. as a new product,” Egger said.

Over eight months we tried out different recipes to achieve a taste that recalls the scents of Portofino. At the same time, our aim was to design a bottle that told our story and highlighted the beauty of Portofino. We wanted Portofino Dry Gin to reflect our vision and values based on excellence, elegance and style. It took a year to develop, until we launched a small batch of 3,000 bottles in April 2019. The resulting liquid is said to offer notes of fresh lemon and juniper, along with Mediterranean flavours such as rosemary and lavender. The 43% ABV gin is recommended served with premium tonic water and garnished with a sprig of rosemary. According to the brand, the region’s unique microclimate allows Mediterranean vegetation to grow all year-round, with each of the gin’s botanical ripened by the sea breeze and the warm sun of the Italian riviera. I do not take lightly the responsibility we are carrying, taking a little bit of Portofino around the world for people to taste, but I know the founding members feel the same responsibility, and will honour Portofino for all its majesty in Portofino Dry Gin. To learn more about the brand and the company’s plans for the future, The Spirits Business spoke to co-founder and CEO Ruggero Raymo. What’s the story behind Portofino Dry Gin?He then continued to detail the importance of each feature: “ T he square shape of the bottle, the blue color of the Ligurian sea – which is particular to the region of Portofino – [and] the label represents our fishing village.” With these elements in mind, Portofino Dry Gin is the “vehicle to transport [its] consumers” to the founders’ beloved village. Poured into a glass, the gin offers a very aromatic nose that includes perfumed notes of rose that join nicely with piney juniper, lemon, and lavender. There is also an interesting herbal note on the nose that may result from the inclusion of rosemary and sage, and a bit of racy alcohol also comes through on the gin. The palate follows the nose, but the flavors are in a slightly different balance. Taking a sip, piney, peppery notes of the juniper now come to the fore and merge with lemon peel, lavender, and an herbal character. The gin’s range of flavors really play together nicely, creating a rounded character, and the finish is a particular strength as the complex lingers for quite some time before gently fading. We will focus on expanding our team by recruiting unique talents, consolidating Portofino Dry Gin’s positioning in the countries we are currently present in and further penetrating new markets. Next year we expect to produce 300,000 bottles and sell 200,000 bottles and we want to guarantee the highest quality standards for our gin. The recipe “recalls Italian cuisine, Ligurian cuisine,” added Raymo. “It’s a multi-sensory experience.” Portofino’s Future We were inspired by the vintage perfume containers from the ’50s and ’60s. We are the first to use a format like this.” Raymo said.

Commercially, 2022 is a milestone year. We are seeing tremendous interest in the US for premium Mediterranean gins like ours, which has translated into good sales results in some key states. Gimlet Portofino:The classic Gimlet is already a summer mainstay for good reason, thanks to its bright citrus flavour and light finish. However the addition of sage, lemon and ginger in the Gimlet Portofino brings a new depth of flavour and warmth that could not be better suited for an afternoon in the sun. Or better still - it brings a bit of the Mediterranean sun to wherever you are. Portofino is a destination that makes people dream. We want to show the real Portofino, the people who live there and bring it to life. More than a postcard, we see our brand as a door that opens to the secrets of our village. Portofino Dry Gin has experienced great success after its 2019 launch in Italy. The gin has earned a multitude of accolades from Gold at the Gin Masters Asia 2020 competition to Triple Gold at The MicroLiquor Spirit Awards this year. After being sold in many countries around the world, Raymo and Egger sought expansion into the U.S. market. Raymo then discussed what makes Portofino Dry Gin stand out from other brands: “What we have, which is quite unique, we deliver a different experience. We are able to transport people — through the taste, the visual — to transport them to Portofino. In everything we do, this is our goal.” A Multi-Sensory ExperienceThe brand also plans to continue staying in touch with fun trends, such as interactive VR trips to Portofino and Metaverse opportunities. “ We are still so interested in what we can do for innovation,” Egger stated. The two founders wish to share “la dolce vita” with the world by capturing the Italian Riviera in their lifestyle-branded gin. Egger and Raymo then discussed how all 21 botanicals have been carefully selected for their aromas and flavors. According to the two, there are t hree key segments to the gin: the floral (rose and lavender), the citrus (tangerine, orange and grapefruit) and the herbal (sage, marjoram and rosemary). Vyrobený a fľašovaný v Taliansku z ingrediencií prírodného pôvodu. Bez pridávania cukru, konzervantov a dodatočných aróm. Portofino Gin sa vyrába v 2 hodiny vzdialenej starodávnej talianskej destilérke. Pri každej výrobnej dávke sa kombinujú tradičné a inovatívne metódy destilácie - od starej talianskej destilácie metódou copper pot still, ktorá sa používa aj pri výrobe miestneho likéru a grappy až po majstrovsky zvládnutú modernú technológiu za použitia vákua, ktorá uchováva arómu aj tých najdelikátnejších botaník.

This is a delightful gin that started strong and got better as I sat with the glass for a spell. It also makes for a refreshing yet sophisticated gin & tonic. I’m a fan. The LIVE virtual tastings are carried out in the last week of the month. Please keep an eye on our socials for confirmed dates! Egger and Raymo shared their gratitude for those who helped them “every step of the way” in this new venture.

Winner of 1 spirit awards

The two founders mentioned how New York — diverse and cosmopolitan — has been a great location to grow as a brand by speaking directly to consumers and retailers. We’re aiming to expand our range of products and target new channels, such as duty free. We also want our audience to be able to visit us in Portofino, experience our botanical garden and have a nice G&T in the Piazzetta.” What are your plans for the year ahead? We met in 2020 at his concert in Portofino, and we bonded and shared past stories of the village. He talked a lot about Portofino Gin and said, ‘You brought this place to the world through the gin’. He really wanted to invest in the company, and together we saw the opportunity to bring the brand to the next level.” What will his involvement be with the brand?