FARMILY: a small batch botanical spirit

As mentioned in my MILAN: Navigli Nights blog posts. A non-gin, non-vodka, non-tequila, and non-rum small-batch liqueur for Italy’s modern cocktail scene.

[Milan, November 2017] – FARMILY is a botanical spirit created by Flavio Angiolillo, Marco Russo, and team; renowned barmen and owners of leaders in Milan’s new craft cocktail scene. Their most popular bar MAG Café* – located along the grand canal in the Navigli neighborhood – is filled with whimsical design of warm oak, velvet seats and antique coffee tables. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable and creative, mixing concoctions for the advanced cocktail savvy patrons. Among the colorful bottles of popular high-quality liquor, is the house-made spirit they call FARMILY.

FARMILY’s Mediterraneo botanical spirit  is billed as the non-gin, non-tequila, non-rum liqueur that is versatile and can easily substitute any of those alcohols. Taken straight-up, on the rocks or mixed for creating a new twist on old classics; or for creating something entirely different. This spirit incorporates the flavors of Mediterranean herbs and spices hand-picked by Angiolillo, Russo and team. Mediterraneo is the debut version – launched in 2016 – is inhabited by the flavors of rosemary, oregano, marjoram, pine and wild celery, with a hint of vanilla. These herbs and spices were blended together and distilled with a grain alcohol – giving it a gin-like quality. The result is an aromatic botanical with a 43% grade alcohol level. The first production yielded a limited 2150 bottles, but the team continues to produce from this particular harvest to accommodate the growing demand for FARMILY in Italy and around the globe.

The intent behind making FARMILY is to give each year’s production a different ingredient based on that year’s harvest. For example, the Asia bears a totally different color and label made from a harvest of botanicals consisting of genetian flower, wild celery, ginger, clove, quinine, with orange rind and vanilla. This more aromatic and flavorful blend is distilled with sweet sugarcane alcohol, giving it a taste similar to rum; vastly different from its predecessor.

Both FARMILY Mediterraneo and FARMILY Asia are small batch spirits; which can be found at cocktail bars and specialty shops in Italy. For more information visit www.farmilyspirits.com or contact distributor Ghilardi Selezioni at www.ghilardiselezioni.com.

*MAG Café is part of the Angiolillo and Russo group which also includes Backdoor43 (Italy’s smallest bar), 1930 (an invite only speakeasy), Barba Bar, and Iter.

• MAG Cafe – Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 43, Milano