In their May 2020 Gin of the Month box, we are sending our members the first ever gin to be distilled in Monaco. That’s right, we are whisking them away to that paradise principality that sits between France, Italy and the Mediterranean sea.
This gin is the perfect way to explore the elegance of that iconic land. Let us tell you the wonderful story behind its development!
Our May 2020 Gin of the Month:
La Distillerie de Monaco Gin aux Agrumes
*Monaco’s first gin - made exclusively for Craft Gin Club Members *
40% ABV
Botanicals:
Juniper, Bitter Orange, Sweet Orange, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Citron, Szechuan Pepper, Ginger, Lemon Thyme
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, an aromatic explosion of citrus. At first sip, the exceptionally smooth liquid builds upon a foundation of juniper, complemented by the warming spice of ginger and Szechuan pepper. In the mid-palate, it reaches a crescendo with a medley of seven citrus notes mingling in perfect harmony. The effect is elegant, light and intoxicatingly flavourful. The taste of citrus lasts long on the finish, elevated by the herbaceous hints left behind by the lemon thyme.
Meet Philip Culazzo the man behind our May 2020 Gin of the Month!
Philip Culazzo in his distillery
Since the 1800s, Monaco’s coastal allure and its commitment to exuberance and extravagance has made it a playground for the rich, famous, royal and bohemian. The list of guests who have enjoyed the fashionable hedonism of Monaco have included Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Coco Chanel, Bridgette Bardot, Grace Kelly, Ringo Star, Louis Armstrong, Roger Moore and many other icons of fashion and film.
But for Philip Culazzo, the glitz and glamour are just one part of what make Monaco so special. As a long-time resident, he prizes the principality for something very different: the simplicity and honesty of life there, in a place where the sun shines, the sea sparkles and the streets are lined with fragrant citrus trees.
Philip has made it his quest to capture this more authentic side of Monaco in his gin.
Monaco’s famed oranges
Endless Summer
For Philip, the coast of Monaco has always been synonymous with the long, lazy days of summer.
“While I was born and raised in Ireland, my family and I have been coming to Monaco since I was born. We have a house in my dad’s hometown of Bordighera, an Italian town just a half-hour’s drive from Monaco, where we spent all our summers.”
Eventually, when Philip became a seafood merchant supplying the finest kitchens in France, Italy and Spain with fresh produce, it only made sense to make Monaco his home. One of the friends he made there happened to be Jon Hulme, who would go on to co-found Craft Gin Club with John Burke.
“I lived in Monaco around 10 years back, when my then-girlfriend got a job there. Monaco is famous for gambling, and that was a gamble that definitely paid off – she’s now my wife, and has been for eight years this May.”
Philip (left) with Craft Gin Club founders Jon Hulme (middle) and John Burke (right)
While Monaco had summoned the two men for different reasons, its amazing foodie culture brought out a passion for food and drink in both.
“We met long before the idea of distillation came into my mind, and well before Jon and John had the idea for Craft Gin Club. But even then we knew we shared an interest in creating and communicating the stories of hand-made, authentic spirits. It’s funny now that our roads diverged when Jon left Monaco, and converged again through gin.”
But before the gin came a stunning citrus liqueur – and, of course, the first distillery ever built in Monaco!
An Unseen City
When Philip saw the stream of tourists that flowed in and out of Monte Carlo, he was disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to take a little piece of Monaco away with them – not an authentic one, anyway. Philip longed to find a way to introduce visitors to the Monaco he had fallen in love with in his youth.
What makes it the jewel of the Côte d'Azur isn’t just the yachts, fast cars and Belle Époque hotels. It’s also the beauty and mystery of the endless blue of sky and sea, the simple cuisine made with fresh local ingredients, the sunshine, the safety, the cleanliness and the celebration of good taste and good conversation.
“I thought it would be interesting to create something that gave visitors the chance to experience a genuine speciality of Monaco – not just the kind of things you’d find in any tourist shop anywhere in the world. I just wasn’t quite sure what that would be.”
Monaco’s sunny streets.
After months of allowing the idea to percolate in his head, Philip was heading home one dusk when a wave of fragrance hit him. It was coming from the citrus fruit trees lining the cobbled streets of Monte Carlo.
Like a bolt of lightning, it struck him: nothing could authentically capture the spirit of Monaco as well as its citrus fruits. After all, these trees had lined the streets of Monte Carlo for thousands of years.
“Before the train lines came, before the casino was built, before the hotels attracted a wealthy clientele escaping for the winter, the main source of income here was olives and citrus fruits.”
An orange tree on one of Monaco’s radiant streets.
A Toast to Citrus
Back in the 1700s and early 1800s, Monaco’s real treasure was its citrus fruits. Ships from all over the Mediterranean would come to Port Hercules, which according to local legend was built by the mighty hero of Greek myth himself, to stock up on its oranges.
For locals, citrus fruits remain a significant symbol of Monaco’s history. What most people don’t know, however, is that most of the fruit is wasted.
“The fruit trees are owned by the palace, but when most of the fruit fell, it was being swept up and promptly incinerated. Something like 85% of it was thrown away every year. I wanted to use it.”
The government was all too happy to have Philip take some of the fruit off their hands, and it gave him an idea.
“During my research I discovered there had never been a distillery for alcohol in the history of Monaco, and I saw that as an opportunity to be the first.”
However, when Philip opened Monaco’s first-ever distillery, it wasn’t for gin at all. He crafted L’Orangerie Liqueur. To make this truly unique liqueur, each orange is picked by hand, washed and peeled at the distillery before being used in Philip’s closely guarded recipe.
Oranges collected ready to be taken to L’Orangerie.
The result is a golden liquid that brings the lightness and playfulness of the Mediterranean to life. When chilled and topped up with gin, fresh fruit juice and Prosecco, L’Orangerie transports the drinker straight to Monte Carlo.
Once his L’Orangerie Liqueur had become the toast of the town and the best mixologists in Monaco were using it to make their favourite cocktails, he began to plan his next adventure.
The Man Who Follows His Nose
When the craft gin boom took off, the variety and quality of gins which became available were a real revelation to Philip – especially the spirits he discovered through his old buddy Jon, who had become something of an expert while co-founding Craft Gin Club.
He began by seeking out the most fragrant gins he could find and on his strolls beneath the canopies of trees in Monaco, he found himself wondering how their fruits might express themselves as botanicals in a gin.
“When I thought about making a spirit in honour of Monaco, I had a very definite idea in my head of what I wanted to do, which was to communicate all the amazing citrus fruits we have in the area. Gin was the perfect spirit to create because juniper and citrus marry so well together.”
Monaco’s delicious lemons.
The vision for Monaco’s first gin clear in his mind, Philip ordered a gleaming custom-built still from Germany and got to work.
The first thing to do was to create a recipe. He wanted to craft a spirit that was light, refreshing and elegant, but that also captured the complexity of Monaco’s character.
“The key to creating an exceptional product is starting with a really good base ingredient, and of course in gin, that’s juniper.”
The sunny climes and rich soil of Macedonia and Croatia produce some of the finest juniper on the planet, and this meant that Philip could create a spirit that stayed true to southern Europe.
Then came the real challenge. The Mediterranean coast and Monaco offer such a bounty of high-quality botanicals that Philip found himself spoiled for choice.
Oranges ready to made into gin!
“We kept adding to the recipe but at some point you have to stop and select only the very best botanicals. Otherwise it’s like putting too many colours in a painting.”
Philip went with his gut instincts in selecting the most fragrant fruits and herbs to add to his blend. This included seven types of locally-sourced and completely natural citrus fruits – bitter orange, sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot and citron.
To elevate the blend of citrus and juniper, Philip added ginger and Sichuan pepper. He topped this off with a touch of lemon thyme, known for its distinctive combination of citrus and herbaceous notes.
When he sat in front of the crystal clear liquid for the first time, he could tell from the way it smelled that he was about to taste something special.
“It was absolutely intoxicating, and I don’t mean just the alcohol! The scent from the seven citrus fruits was delicious – it was like being able to taste it through your nose. And then when you do finally taste it, the flavours transport you straight to Monaco.”
Philip gets ready to distil his gin.
A Drink with Friends
Once Philip had perfected his recipe, there was one man in particular he wanted to share it with – his old pal Jon. After all, they’d always enjoyed sharing a good gin cocktail, and this spirit paid homage to the place they had first become friends.
When they finally sat down to taste the gin for the first time, Philip could sense their anticipation. Each man inhaled the smell, took a sip and allowed the flavours to wash over their palates. Jon and John had found what they had been looking for. With its sunny citrus flavours, La Distillerie de Monaco Gin aux Agrumes would make May a magical month for Craft Gin Club members.
“What makes me most proud about this gin – without a doubt – is the flavour profile of citrus and juniper. When you add tonic, you end up with a G&T that’s aromatic, light and refreshing. It’s the perfect drink to have when the sun is in the sky!”
Philip, Jon and John collecting citrus fruits for our May 2020 Gin of the Month.
You need to try this fantastic gin in Craft Gin Club’s Race Car, our May 2020 Cocktail of the Month, and our May 2020 Perfect G&T. They are fabulous ways to bring a spot of that Monaco sunshine into your life!
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