Faccia Brutto arrives in Europe
Brooklyn-based bitters company Faccia Brutto Spirits, which launched in 2020, has crossed the pond.
Created by former chef Patrick Miller, the spirits brands aims to create ‘Italian-style spirits with a contemporary feel’. Its name is a deliberately misspelt derivation of the Italian phrase ‘ugly face’, which Miller says is an affectionate tease popular among Italian grandmothers.
Until now, Faccia Brutto was available in the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. It will now enter the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and Austria, with plans for a UK launch to follow.
Tipple will handle the brand’s direct-to-consumer sales in these new markets.
Six of the brand’s amari will land in Europe: Amaro Alpino, Aperitivo, Amaro Gorini, Carciofo, Centerbe, and Fernet Pianta.
Miller said: “Bartenders in the USA love our brand. These ingredients are sophisticated, well-balanced and an asset to any good back bar or keen home cocktail lover’s collection. We are so excited to bring six items in our range to a wider audience in Europe where great drinks are also very much appreciated.”
Amaro Alpino features 18 alpine botanicals, including chicory root, rhubarb root, spruce buds, elecampane root, and eucalyptus. These are macerated in neutral grain spirit before being aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for around 16 months. The expression is bottled at 35% ABV and retails for US$49/€42.
Meanwhile, Aperitivo is the brand’s take on a classic red bitter, but with a ‘more rounded character’. Its 17 botanicals include gentian, kola nut, hibiscus, fresh orange peel and rhubarb root. Bottled at 24% ABV, it retails for US$37/€39.
Miller’s grandmother, who loved southern Italian spirits, is the inspiration behind Amaro Gorini. Bottled at 22% ABV, it features gentian, rhubarb root, fennel seeds, and sweet and bitter orange. The expression is aged in ex-Bourbon barrels before being filtered and sweetened with organic cane sugar.
Amaro Gorini has an RRP of US$52/€45.
Carciofo is an aperitivo made from fresh Californian artichokes. These are macerated with spices including cinnamon, allspice and bitter dandelion root. Bottled at 25%, Carciofo retails for US$25/€43.
Centerbe is Faccia Brutto’s interpretation of a European herbal liqueur, featuring both fresh and dried herbs. Slightly sweetened with organic cane sugar, the expression is the strongest in the range, reaching 45% ABV. Centerbe retails for US$45/€39.
The final expression now available in Europe is Fernet Pianta (35% ABV). This is inspired by Miller’s grandfather and all of the line cooks he has worked with in his career. Fernet Pianta features 21 ingredients, including saffron, myrrh and aloe ferox. It retails for US$45/€39.
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