Italy-Cuba, twinning under the banner of gin. In fact, the first historic Cuban gin was born in Italy, in Turin: it's called Criollo Cuban Gin and it was conceived by a group of entrepreneurs from Turin led by Giustino Ballato, an expert in vermouth and one of the protagonists of the rediscovery of the historic Anselmo brand, with the participation of other important companies such as Lavazza, Alce Nero and Boero.
The secret? To bring together some typical local ingredients, such as il limon criollo and organic cane sugar, of which the American country is one of the top producers, and some Italian gems, such as Tuscan juniper berries, considered the best in the world, and other so-called "secret" herbs.
Cuban gin, produced for now in one very limited edition of 500 bottles, experienced its baptism a few days ago in Havana, the Cuban capital, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of its foundation. Although it is difficult to believe given the tradition of Cuba in liqueurs (starting with the well-known rum) this curious and intriguing mix of aromas, flavors and colors, good to drink neat but also ideal for cocktails and food pairing it is the first official gin of the island made famous (also) by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. And that's not all: the partnership on the Italy-Cuba axis was also an opportunity to create new collaborations and open up cultural exchanges and commercial opportunities with the entrepreneurs and institutions of the Caribbean island.
“I have always been in love with Cuba and its cultural and natural riches – commented Giustino Ballato -. I consider it a country with enormous potential. The idea of creating a gin capable of combining Cuban and Italian ingredients was born in 2017, when I went to exhibit at the Havana International Fair with the Anselmo brand”.
“Since I am a plant and herb enthusiast – added the expert – I was fascinated by unique varieties in the world such as the limon Criollo, with its exceptional aroma, and the organic sugar cane typical of this area. Hence the desire to create the first Cuban gin, a festive, intriguing and authentic product just like the people who inhabit this magnificent land.”
