The area of Moncalieri has always traditionally been regarded for the production of quality liqueurs, with Carpano, Cinzano and Martini Rossi all based nearby. Malfy Gin, a small batch family made Italian product partnered with large scale spirits importer Biggar & Leith may not be a liqueur, but the Vergnano family’s brand is certainly making a name for itself, and not just in Moncalieri.
The Vergnano family create Malfy in Torino Distillati, on the outskirts of Turin, although it was initially established in 1906 to operate in the wine and vermouth business by Fratelli Ferrero di Riccardo, a Piedmontese family. It came into the Vergnano’s hands via the the Canadian company Seagram, who bought the site in the 1960s. It was Carlo Vergnano, the technical and operational director of Seagram Italia, who bought the Moncalieri plant in a management buy-out operation in 1992, and subsequently set up what is known now as Torino Distillati.
The product created there, Malfy Gin, is a spirit with an interesting and unique distillation process. Initially, it entailed steeping a careful mix of lemon peels from both Amalfi Coast Lemons and Sicilian lemons (20/80% split, roughly) in wheat based alcohol, before pressing this combination in a traditional basket press. This citrus heavy extract was then distilled with a selection of botanical elements, including Tuscan juniper, coriander, cassia, liquorice, grapefruit peel and orange peel.
The distillation occurs in a custom made stainless still under vacuum for 3-4 hours, which makes it something of a rarity - it's not often a hybrid vacuum and large scale apparatus are combined in this manner. The spirit is subsequently chill filtered and bottled.
This quite singular distillation method is not the only stand-out feature of the Malfy brand. The bottle design is a fine example of how to effectively marry an expression of provenance with modernity and style, from the the traditional glass design technique decoration, the Italian real oak stopper and, in particular, the Malfy crest.
With clarity and finesse it brings together two, sharp, representative colours - the yellow for lemons and the blue for the Mediterranean - with an interpretation of the four ancient Italian kingdoms competing in an annual rowing race and the letters G.Q.D.I., which stand for 'Gin Di qualitià Distallato In Italia', a recognised guarantee of quality and origin.
The partnership with Biggar & Leith has contributed to a growing international presence in recent times for Malfy Gin, and it would seem that its memorable profile has been making an impression among consumers and bartenders alike. The brands two core expressions, Malfy Gin Con Limone and Malfy Gin Originale, are available right here.