Beautifully crafted Vermouth, Aperitivos and Maraschino Cherries
Founder and owner Elwyn Gladstone of fine wine and spirits company Biggar and Leith, launched about a year ago, an exciting new brand called Hotel STARLINO. The product range includes STARLINO Rosso Vermouth, STARLINO Rosé Aperitivo and STARLINO Maraschino Cherries.
Biggar and Leith knows the alcohol beverage space very well, since they have a reputation of developing and bringing highly acclaimed products to the market. A few years back they launched Malfy Gin, to rave reviews and much success.
The STARLINO Vermouth and Aperitivos come from the Vergnano family’s distillery, Torino Distillati, in Piedmonte, Italy. Their STARLINO Maraschino Cherries are produced in San Gennaro, Vesuviano, close to Naples. I’ve had the joy of trying all three of the products in the STARLINO line.
STARLINO Rosé is a light and refreshing Aperitivo. It is made by blending Rosé wine, spirit, pink grapefruit peel, orange peel and 8 other botanicals including Wormwood and Coriander. I found it to be delicious served as a spritz. Simply mix with some good Prosecco and a grapefruit slice. Even better as a Starlino Rosé Cosmopolitan. All Italian – I made it with equal parts of Wild Sardinia Vodka and the STARLINO Rosé and STARLINO Italian Maraschino cherries as a delicious garnish.
On to the STARLINO Rosso (Red Vermouth) – made from a blend of Italian white wine, Sicilian Ansonica and Cataratto wines and Marsala wine. They then blend it with selection of botanicals including Wormwood, bitter orange and cloves. Finally, aged in Bourbon barrels for six months to give it a rich, spicy, vanilla flavor – perfect for Negronis. That’s how I enjoyed this beautifully crafted vermouth, as a Starlino Negroni. Equal parts of Rosso, Campari and gin. Garnish with a STARLINO Maraschino cherry and orange slice.
Creating the STARLINO Maraschino Cherries are a delicate craft in itself. They mature for 15 days in their natural Marasaca juice, then rest for an additional seven days to reach perfection. The result of this artisan production method is an all-natural, luxury cherry that is delightfully sweet and tart. STARLINO Maraschino Cherries are made from high-quality, Italian Marasaca Cherries, also known as some of the highest quality cocktail cherries in the world.
The packaging for the Hotel STARLINO Vermouth, Aperitivos and Maraschino Cherries is inspired by and celebrates Italy’s incredible turn of the twentieth century design and architecture. This design style, known in Italy as Stile Liberty, is famous in Torino where the brand was born and created. The premium packaging is done in beautiful, heavy apothecary-style bottles and finished with ceramic and wooden stoppers, reminiscent of an antique door knob.
Hotel STARLINO Rosé, Rosso and Maraschino Cherries became available in the US from August 2020 via various distributors.