The Bar Journal

INDUSTRY EXPERT GIUSEPPE GALLO LAUNCHES ITALICUS TO RESTORE THE FORGOTTEN ROSOLIO CATEGORY
Expertly crafted using the finest native Italian ingredients, ITALICUS is a sip of Italy

The UK’s leading authority in Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo, has announced the launch of ITALICUS – Rosolio di Bergamotto in an exclusive portfolio of on-trade accounts. Capitalising on the worldwide trend of aperitivo, Giuseppe has selected London, Milan and New York City to lead the global revival of Rosolio with the launch of his brand new liquid, – ITALICUS – a modern take on this forgotten category.

CAPTURING THE ITALIAN SPIRIT
Remaining faithful to the historic origins of Rosolio, the original Italian aperitivo once enjoyed by the King of Savoy, ITALICUS has been in development for almost a year and is masterfully created using a recipe which dates back to the late 1800s. So popular was Rosolio in the 19th Century that each of Italy’s regions had their own distinctive variations – enjoyed as the aperitivo of the people.

Championing the humble bergamot fruit, ITALICUS is produced at a family-owned distillery established in 1906 in Moncalieri, Torino. Bergamot from the UNESCO-protected area in the Calabrian region and cedro from Sicilia are infused in cold water to release their essential oils, in a time honoured process called Sfumatura, before being blended with Italian neutral grain spirit.

A delicate combination of Roman chamomile from Lazio, lavender, gentian, yellow roses and melissa balm from Northern Italy are then rested macerated together for several days before being married with the bergamot and cedro essential oils to create the final liquid.

ITALICUS founder Giuseppe Gallo comments, “This is an incredible moment in my career and I’m very pleased to share it with some of the best in the business, who I’m proud to call my friends. The launch of ITALICUS marks the end of a life-long ambition to bring back the Rosolio category which was first born during the renaissance with Caterina de Medici in Firenze

“ITALICUS is personal to me as I’ve introduced elements of my own family’s recipes that go back many generations. Over the past few years I have sourced some of the finest ingredients that my beloved Italy has to offer, including the unique taste of cedri from Sicilia and of course the wonderful bergamot from Calabria, which I believe is the next trendy flavour in the cocktail world.

“It has been my childhood dream to create the quintessential expression of what makes Italy the most remarkable and unforgettable country in the world for so many people, bottling the essence of La Dolce Vita LA BELLA ITALIA Rosolio means ‘the dew of the sun’ and ITALICUS is truly a sip of Italy, bringing a forgotten category back to the cocktail industry at long last.”

TASTING NOTES
ITALICUS is lightly floral citrus on the nose with hints of rose and lavender. On the palate, fresh tones of ripe citrus fruits are balanced with a light bitter and floral spice before giving way to a complex and long lasting finish.

DESIGN INFLUENCE
ITALICUS’ unique bottle, designed by award-winning creative agency Stranger & Stranger, pays tribute to Italy’s exquisite history and heritage, as well as the incredible native flavours found across the country’s 20 regions. The iconic stopper features a renaissance style Bacchus harvesting bergamot and is framed by the shape of a bergamot fruit cross-sectioned. The black and white surround colouring of the cap is inspired by Italian gothic architecture, while the colour of the glass is inspired by the Grotta Azzura in Capri and the clear waters of the Amalfi Coast; where Giuseppe spent his childhood peeling fruit beneath bergamot trees to make Rosolio with his mother.

The logo, presented as an icon on top of the stopper depicts Bacchus posed like Leonardo da Vinci’s Virtuvian man harvesting local bergamot, encompassed by the irregular shape of the fruit – referencing Rosolio’s renaissance credentials. Every element of the bottle design has been curated to encapsulate the stripped back elegance and charm of Italy.

Rowan Miller, Design Director, Stranger & Stranger comments, “From the initial briefing it was clear we needed to create something authentic and iconic to evoke the essence, elegance and charm of Italy. ITALICUS is a multifaceted product, not about one place or one period. So we encompassed this nature through the design: we use a colour palette that evokes the Mediterranean; blue glass blends with yellow liquid creating an aqua marine of the Amalfi coast; the green hues of bergamot and lush landscape set against the gold of an Italian sun. Just as an Italian cathedral is filled with many different styles from different eras, our final pack design is a balanced mix of Italian harmony and beauty.

SALUTE!
Giuseppe Gallo