Calabrian Bergamot

Calabrian Bergamot – Faude fine spirits

The Faude fine spirits Calabrian Bergamot is a magnificent bergamot spirit from the in-house distillery in Kaiserstuhl. At the southernmost tip of Italy in Calabria, directly opposite the island of Sicily, the bergamot develops its extraordinary aroma. Incredibly complex, citrusy-fruity, sparklingly fresh. Master distiller Florian brings this full-bodied composition, made from the finest, juicy organic bergamots, into the glass as a fragrant, delicate spirit. Only perfectly ripe fruit of the best quality is processed into enjoyable spirits in his distillery in Bötzingen, because the experienced distiller is sure: a good distillate begins with a top-quality fruit. It's no coincidence that his spirits have won national and international awards, and the Calabrian Bergamot is one of the popular citrus spirits in the Faude fine spirits range.

The Faude fine spirits Calabrian Bergamot is a fruity-fresh gift with a lasting finish for all southern Italy lovers and Black Forest fans. As a long drink with tonic water, the Faude fine spirits Calabrian Bergamot becomes a refreshing drink that instantly transports you mentally to the coast of Calabria.

Faude Bergamot – the Italian Connection

In the summer of 2015, during a holiday in Sicily, Kaiserstuhl distiller Florian met the passionate farmer Giancarlo. By the next harvest, Florian was already among the incredibly fragrant citrus trees on his friend's fruit plantation. These are located at the foot of Mount Etna on fertile volcanic soils that are organically farmed. Florian got to know the land and the people and fell a little in love with the Sicilian's wonderful citrus fruits. Back home in the Black Forest, he first experimented with the blood oranges he had brought back, followed by mandarins and finally bergamot, and the result was simply sensational every time. The wonderfully intense, essential oils from the peel of the bergamot, which are captured in this Italian-German friendship, are dissolved in high-proof alcohol. Without the Italian connection that Florian has cultivated for years, this citrus wonder would not have been possible. Grazie e Salute!

Bergamot is a citrus fruit that resulted either from a cross between bitter orange and lime or bitter orange and citron. The small fruits have been cultivated in southern Italy since the mid-17th century and look like round, wrinkled limes that turn yellow as they ripen. The fragrant bergamot was never a fruit for consumption, but was particularly valued in perfumery due to its enchanting essential oils. With over 350 different aromas, bergamot surpasses many other natural fragrances in complexity. As an aromatic ingredient in the English black tea blend Earl Grey, it has crept into our hearts and our olfactory memory.

Spirit instead of Brandy – Florian explains

A spirit made from citrus fruits is not a brandy, but a "Geist" (spirit). "A Geist," Florian explains, "opens up possibilities for the distiller to do familiar things differently and to play with the unknown." Unlike brandy, Florian therefore uses fruits that cannot be mashed and fermented due to their low sugar content, such as the Calabrian bergamot. "Here we take a piece of nature," Florian continues, "steep it in purest grain alcohol so that it can release its full aroma into the alcohol, and distill the flirtation after a short time. This way, only clear notes enter the distillate. What we save in time, we add in fruit." The spirit is then reduced to drinking strength (42% vol. alcohol) with the good, soft water of the Black Forest and filled without cold filtration into classic 500ml frosted glass bottles, which are reserved for the four citrus spirits. "The result: a highly harmonious paradox. Intensely fresh, immediately present and yet – complex and light-footed."