Calabria and the Old Customs Warehouse were my life. Every day was like the first, we were engrossed in the work we loved more than anything else. We watched with<br />passion as Giocondo, who had a flair for everything in his trade, a man of few words and a master of life. The botanicals in his hands expressed extraordinary and<br />sometimes unthinkable things. The harvesting of bergamot and citron was a sacred time for him, and one that was sure to hold secrets. Jefferson was the most curious. He<br />would always try to follow him, most often surreptitiously, to try to understand what the secret was to producing such a natural and unique bergamot and citron liqueur. We<br />would leave, even before dawn, with his little cart and empty baskets to reach that magical place, even further south than the Old Customs Warehouse, four, maybe five<br />hours away. Once there, I was struck by the scents in that wonderful garden, something unique and magical. Giocondo with much patience and control began picking the<br />fruits one by one, which were sacred to him, he had a deep respect for the place. Once finished we set off for home, strangely enough I had the impression that it took much<br />less time than the outward journey, perhaps it was because of the desire to fulfil a dream. When we arrived, Giocondo wasted no time in starting the work. I still remember<br />his rough hands full of the essences of those wonderful fruits. He would complete the work by taking it to his 'Dark Room', no one could get in there. He always repeated:<br />'Silence!'. I always thought there was something secret and mysterious there. I hope that those who will be lucky enough to taste this liqueur will not seek explanations or<br />mathematical formulas, but will experience the passion, the emotions and the sacrifices of those who work the land every day to create this.<br /><br />Family heritage. So says the label. Products created by the skill of Maestro Giocondo, owner of the Vecchio Magazzino Doganale and expert in fruits, herbs and spices, but<br />above all adoptive father and guide of our characters. From his rough hands come Bergamotto Fantastico and Diamante Cedro, from a careful selection of the symbolic fruits<br />of Calabria: bergamot and cedar.<br />They enhance their character served cold and original in blends.<br /><br /><br /> L'Eredità di Famiglia <br />

Description follows

<br />Reserva Heredad<br />Reserva Heredad was created to express style, in the world of top of the range sparkling wines. We make it with the objective of offering an elegant, versatile Cava. To do<br />this, we select only the very best wines from each vintage, which will then age in bottle, in contact with the lees, for more than 30 months. This ageing ends when the winery<br />expert gives every bottle the magic touch with the last poignettage or shake of the wrist, which intensi- fies the contact of the lees with the wine, and creates a more<br />complex bouquet.<br /><br />THE VINEYARDS<br />The grapes are 100% hand harvested and transported to the winery in 25kg capacity self draining plastic boxes to prevent grape damage, and thereby avoiding the<br />possibility that the juice might oxidise, with a consequent loss of freshness.<br /><br /><br />IN THE CELLAR<br />The must for Reserva Heredad comes from the lightest pressing of the grapes. We only use the first 50% of the juice pressed. This is known as the flower must, as it is<br />the most aromatic and delicate. The first fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled low temperature of between 14 and 16°C, to retain the primary<br />aromas of the grapes. The blend for Reserva Heredad is made up of nine different wines, each one vinified in separate tanks. The magic of the blend is in ensuring that each<br />one lends its own touch of character to the whole. Macabeo is the dominant grape in Reserva Heredad, contributing acidity and freshness. It also allows the wine to age<br />well, during the 30 months or more that it will be in contact with the lees. Both the first and the second fermentations are carried out using our own selected yeast strains.<br />These give structure, softness on the palate, more complex aromas (honey, dried fruits and flowers), as well as an elegant and persistent mousse. Before disgorgement we<br />give each bottle a last sharp shake, or twist of the wrist, known as a poignettage, lifting the yeast cells from the side of the bottle, and mixing them once more with the<br />wine, thus intensifying the element of autolysis. The riddling or turning of all the bottles of Reserva Heredad is done by hand and in pupitres.<br /><br /><br />IN GLASS<br />Straw yellow in colour, with a small, fine, plentiful mousse. The opening aromas are of the ageing on lees, lightly smokey, with touches of biscuit or bread, which are<br />followed by hints of honey, fruit and flower petals. The palate is excellent, fruity and full of flavour, with dried fruits from the lees ageing, but very elegant, giving the drinker a<br />delightful sense of abundance.<br /><br /><br />ON THE TABLE<br />This Cava defines elegant refreshment, even in its presentation. It is a perfect companion to truffle influenced dishes, such as truffle oil drizzled pastas. White fish - sole or<br />monkfish à la meunière, or even traditional Mediterranean casseroles are perfect companions, as are cooked or cured hams, and soft white cheeses such as brie or<br />camembert. It marries perfectly with meat dishes, such as fillet of venison slow braised in a shallot sauce.<br />

Grappa Nemas Barrique<br />Nemas Riserva Barrique, an elegant blend of fine grape varieties, expertly aged in French oak barrels for at least 18 months.<br />During this period, the delicate hint of vanilla and cocoa typical of mature oak combines with the delicate floral scents of the Grappa, giving it complexity and sweetness.<br />It pairs beautifully with dark chocolate and can be enjoyed at room temperature in a large goblet.<br /><br />Appearance: amber in colour, with golden highlights<br />Bouquet: elegant with hints of vanilla, cocoa and floral notes<br />Taste: warm, harmonious, well structured, but at the same time rich in softness, enriched by slightly spicy scents with notes of wood and vanilla.<br /><br />Produced in Italy by Molinari Italia Spa<br />Via Aurelia Nord km 75.300 - Civitavecchia (RM)<br />Alcohol content: 40°.<br />70 cl<br />

<br />GRAPPA LAGREIN AGED IN MULBERRY BARREL<br /><br />The mulberry barrel is a true jewel that turns special brandies into unique delights for the palate. It gives the distillate its attractive amber colour, a fine sweet note with multi-<br />layered fruity nuances and absolute finesse.<br />Serving suggestion: neat in a cognac glass at 18°C<br />50 cl 40 % vol<br />

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Description follows

Bordiga Amaro St. Hubertus 70 cl / 38°<br /><br />Why it is different<br /><br />Bordiga's Amaro Riserva St. Hubertus is counted among the best bitters in the Italian tradition. It represents the apotheosis of the distillery's artisan and zealous approach<br />to quality. The starting point is the highest quality herbs and flowers that are selected by expert mountaineers in the alpine landscape of the Cuneo valleys. Bordiga is a very<br />special distillery, specialising in rigour and respect for tradition. Its strong point is the medicinal alpine herbs still harvested by hand and dried at high altitudes by mountain<br />people in an uncontaminated environment. This means that the botanicals used are spontaneous, and therefore intrinsically organic. They are harvested without the aid of<br />engines, without pesticides, fertilisers or fungicides and, above all, with great attention to product quality and respect for the environment. Each production, just like in the<br />past, is totally conditioned by the changing seasons and climate. Once harvested, the herbs are meticulously checked by the Master distillers who deliver only the best for<br />processing.<br /><br />How I drink it<br />To be consumed neat, with or without ice.<br />

<br />Quince mustard sauce<br />Delicatessen sauce with mustard flavour in a small jar.<br /><br />A delicious sauce made from quince to flavour raw milk and fresh cheeses, with cheese or meat fondue and roasted or grilled meat. This sauce tastes purely of quince with<br />a hint of the pungent mustard oil. Once opened, the sauce should be consumed quickly, as the mustard oil is very volatile and therefore loses its flavour if the jar, which has<br />already been opened once, is stored for a longer period of time.<br /><br />Quince mustard sauce, 125ml<br /><br />Ingredients : Quinces (45%), sugar, dextrose, natural MUSTARD OIL, chilli extract, gelling agent: pectin, citrus fibre.<br /><br />Allergens : Mustard and mustard products<br /><br />Nutritional values (Ø / 100g)<br />Energy: 1.526KJ / 359 kcal<br />Fat: 0,3 g<br />of which saturated fatty acids: 0.1 g<br />Carbohydrates: 88,8 g<br />thereof sugar: 83,4 g<br />Protein: 0,3 g<br />Salt: 0,01 g<br />Made in Germany<br />

A delicious sauce made from oranges for seasoning raw milk and fresh cheeses, with cheese or meat fondue and roasted or grilled meat. After opening, the sauce should<br />be consumed quickly, because the mustard oil is very volatile and therefore loses its flavour if the jar is stored for a longer period of time once it has already been opened.<br /><br />Orange Mustard Sauce, 125ml<br />Ingredients: Oranges (45%), sugar, dextrose, natural MUSTARD OIL, chilli extract.<br />Allergens: Mustard and mustard products.<br />Nutritional values (Ø / 100g)<br />Energy: 1.437KJ / 338 kcal<br />Fat: 0,1 g<br />of which saturated fatty acids: 0.1 g<br />Carbohydrates: 83,2 g<br />thereof sugar: 79 g<br />Protein: 0,7 g<br />Salt: 0,01 g<br />Shelf life: the exact shelf life is stated on the product label. Once opened, please store in a cool place and consume soon.<br />Made in Germany<br />

Rhum Rhum Blanc<br />Rhum Rhum Marie Galante<br /><br />70 cl / 41 °<br />Typology: Pure Single Rhum Agricole<br />Raw material: Pure cane juice<br />Fermentation: Own selected yeasts<br />Method of production: Pot Still distillation<br />Box: Yes<br />Why it is different<br /><br />Rhum Rhum Blanc 41 ° is the Pure Single Agricole Rhum produced from an ancient variety of sugar cane, the Rouge B47.259, almost disappeared from the Antilles. Once<br />perfectly ripe, the canes are cut by hand with traditional 'coutelas' and transported to the distillery on 'cabrouets' pulled by bulls. The freshly pressed juice is not diluted, as<br />is usual in the production of rhum agricoles; fermentation takes place in open vats at a controlled temperature and lasts up to 5/6 days. After distillation there is a long<br />period of rest in steel vats, lasting up to a year, during which the alcohol content is slowly lowered. Rhum Rhum Blanc is bottled at 41°.<br /><br />How I drink it:<br />Rhum Rhum Blanc 41° is very pleasant in the classic Ti' Punch with a very small addition of sugar. Excellent for classic cocktails such as the Mary Pickford.<br /><br />Focus:<br />In the mid-2000s, Luca Gargano realised a dream he had nurtured for years, that of producing the best rum in the world. To do so, he enlisted the help of maestro Gianni<br />Vittorio Capovilla and together they chose the enchanting island of Marie Galante, where at the time the best possible terroir could be found in the Caribbean. A first still was<br />installed at the Bielle distillery in 2005 and the second in 2007: two Müller bain-marie stills with a capacity of 300 and 1200 litres. The fresh, undiluted cane juice ferments<br />slowly in stainless steel cuves.<br />

Chartreuse VEP. Verte<br />Chartreuse France<br /><br />1 lt / 54°<br />Typology: Liqueur<br />Raw material: Alcohol, herbs, spices, aromas, sugar, honey<br />Method of production: Pot Still Distillation &amp; Infusion<br />Ageing: Continental<br />Box: Yes<br />Why it is different<br /><br />Green Chartreuse VEP is an extremely long aged liqueur, technically the most aged liqueur on the market. A Green Chartreuse with over 15 years of ageing, in small<br />barrels.<br /><br />How to drink it:<br />To be enjoyed as the great end-of-meal liqueur that it is, in fact served at the end of meals in many Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.<br /><br />Focus:<br />Chartreuse means Voiron to many. For more than 100 years, the French town in Haute-Savoie has been the home of the much-loved liqueur of the Carthusian fathers. The<br />Voiron site was built at the end of the 19th century as a logistical base for production, which was carried out in the historic Fourvoire distillery in Saint Laurent Le Pont,<br />destroyed by a landslide in 1935. From 1903, however, the monks had to flee, due to immediate expulsion from the French state, and took refuge in Spain, in Tarragona,<br />where production continued. After returning to France in 1930, and especially after the landslide that destroyed the old distillery, production was transferred to Voiron, where<br />the legendary underground Chartreuse 'caves' can still be visited today.<br />