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Malfy Gin founder launches aperitivo range

The founder of Italian gin brand Malfy has created a new range of aperitivos in a bid to bring the “forgotten” category back to life.

The new Starlino aperitivo range is bottled at 17% ABV

Created by Elwyn Gladstone, founder of US distributor Biggar and Leith, the new Starlino brand consists of three variants: Rosé aperitivo, Arancione aperitivo and Rosso vermouth.

Starlino Rosé was produced by blending rosé wine, spirit, pink grapefruit peel, orange peel and eight other botanicals, including wormwood and coriander.

Starlino Arancione is said to capitalise on the trend for orange wines. The expression is made from white wine and orange distillate – distilled from IGP-certified Sicilian blood oranges, as well as seven herbs and botanicals.

Starlino Rosé and Arancione are recommended served with tonic water or soda water, or in a Spritz with sparkling Moscato wine and sparkling water.

Meanwhile, Starlino Rosso was created from a blend of Italian white wine, Ansonica, Catarratto and Marsala wines, as well as botanicals including wormwood, bitter orange and cloves. The red vermouth is then aged in Bourbon barrels for six months to give a “rich, spicy, vanilla flavour”. It is best served in Negronis, Manhattans, over ice or with a splash of soda water.

Each bottled at 17% ABV, Starlino vermouths hail from the Vergnano family’s Torino Distillati in Piedmonte, Italy.

Beppe Ronco, master distiller and winemaker at Torino Distillati, said: “Torino is the birthplace of vermouth and here at Torino Distillati we’ve been making them for around 100 years.

“We are seeing a huge resurgence of interest in vermouths and aperitivos and wanted to create something new, fresh and delicious to bring this forgotten but wonderful category back to life. Vermouths are showing signs of being the next big thing.”

The packaging for the new range is inspired by 20th century Italian architecture and design. The vermouths are packaged in heavy apothecary-style bottles and come with ceramic and wooden stoppers, reminiscent of an antique door knob.

The front label resembles a vintage luggage tag and the back label features an old fashioned ‘Do Not Disturb’ door hanger.

The Starlino vermouth will be distributed in the UK and globally from April 2020, priced at US$25 per 750ml bottle.

In June last year, super-premium gin brand Malfy was acquired by French drinks group Pernod Ricard.

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