The Bite Magazine - Spring 2019 - Issue 24

bite drinks MALFY GIN From Italy comes Malfy Gin, a delicious beverage that you can relax with on a sunny day and enjoy the view as Cristina Lloyd finds out. I t is said that Italy is the birthplace of gin, invented by monks on the Salerno Coast in the 11th century who added ginepro (juniper) and other botanicals to the alcohol. Carrying on this tradition, the Vergnano family who have been producing the finest quality spirits at their distillery in Moncalieri for over 100 years, believe Malfy Gin captures the perfect gin moment with which you can sit on a sunny terrace and enjoy the view or ‘dolce far niente’ as they say in Italy while mastering the sweet art of doing nothing. Created in 2016, Malfy Gin takes its name from the Amalfi Coast and the lemons grown there, which are used to make the gin. They also use lemons from Sicily to give the gin a fresh and zesty aroma. Citrus is said to hold a special place in the Italian imagination and has endur- ing resonance in their culture. Juniper and five other botanicals in- cluding coriander, angelica and cassia bark give Malfy Gin a delicious and refreshing bite. It is the perfect drink to have on the rocks, in a gin and tonic or in a cocktail like Negroni or a Martini. It is perhaps the blend of Italian spring water with the botanicals that make the delicious taste and look of Malfy Originale (Original) stand out. It was while fervent Alpinists Carlo Vergnano and Beppe Ronco, otherwise known as the distillers of the gin, were on a climb up to the top of Monviso Mountain, that they were inspired by the wild juniper, the pure spring water and the amazing colours of the mountain lakes. The base of the bottle is reminiscent of these mountain lakes and the colour of the label reflects the snow-capped peak. The other three flavoured impressions from Malfy are Con Limone (Lemon), Gin Rosa (Pink Grapefruits) and Con Arancia (Orange). Con Limone is distilled with Sfusato lemon peel from the Amalfi Coast, classic juniper and five other botanicals. It also has Italian coastal oranges and Sicilian grapefruits infused with the Vergnano family’s unique gin recipe to create a one-of-a-kind spirit. With a de- lightful citrus and juniper on the nose and a complex flavour of anise, citrus and coriander, it is perfect to have with a premium tonic and a slice of lemon. Images courtesy of MPR Communications