London acknowledges the top-notch Val d'Aveto wine as the best globally.
In the picturesque region of Liguria, Italy, the Fabbrizii Amaro, a century-old liqueur, has been resurrected from obscurity by the Fugazzi family. This traditional spirit, originally created by Giovanni Fabbrizii in early 20th-century Genoa, has found a new lease of life in Rezzoaglio, a town nestled in the Val d'Aveto hinterland, known for its rich botanical herbs[1].
The Fugazzi family, with roots in both the coastal Ponente area around Genoa and the Val d'Aveto, have revived the Fabbrizii Amaro recipe, staying true to its original form. The Nuovo Liquorificio Fabbrizii, their liqueur production company, has been producing the liqueur since setting up shop in the summer of 2021[2].
Although the Fabbrizii Amaro has not been documented winning any contemporary awards, its reputation is built on its historical significance and connection to authentic Ligurian craftsmanship[1]. However, the Gin Rusagni, another creation by the Fugazzi family, has made a name for itself in the spirits world, having won the double gold medal in the Reserve variant (category The fifty best barreled gin) and the silver medal in the traditional version (category The fifty best gin 1)[3].
In a remarkable turn of events, the recipe for the Fabbrizii Amaro was discovered in a tin cookie box by Laura Cabona, Giorgio Fugazzi's second wife, while emptying her parents' house. Alongside the recipe, she found letters of appreciation and the letter awarding Giovanni Fabbrizii the gold medal at the Genoa Expo of 1906[4].
The Fugazzi family, initially an engineering dynasty, ventured into the spirits industry when they set up a distillery in Rezzoaglio. The family-run Wideurope engineering studio, where Laura Cabona also worked, was acquired by Mott Macdonald, a large English consulting group, in 2017[5].
The Fugazzi family's liqueur production company specialises in reproducing liqueurs according to original recipes. They have entered the GDO (large-scale distribution) market, primarily with Coop, and to a lesser extent with Conad and Gulliver[6].
Looking ahead, the Fugazzi family is planning to bring the Gin Rusagni to the Fancy Food Show in New York (June 29-July 1)[7]. This move indicates the family's ambition to expand their operations beyond Italy's borders, potentially setting the stage for the Fabbrizii Amaro's international debut.
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- The Fugazzi family, initially from an engineering background, have diversified into the small-business sector of food-and-drink production, specifically focusing on the revival of traditional Italian liqueurs such as Fabbrizii Amaro and Gin Rusagni.
- The Fugazzi family's entrepreneurial venture, the Nuovo Liquorificio Fabbrizii, is not only dedicated to the production of the historic Fabbrizii Amaro liqueur but also to exploring modern spirits like Gin Rusagni, which has won accolades in international competitions.
- As they strive to preserve the rich heritage of Ligurian craftsmanship, the Fugazzi family is actively seeking to finance the expansion of their business, planning to showcase Gin Rusagni at the Fancy Food Show in New York, aiming for international success for both Gin Rusagni and eventually Fabbrizii Amaro.
- With their roots in both coastal Genoa and the inland Val d'Aveto, the Fugazzi family has managed to infuse their lifestyle and passion for cooking, especially using the region's rich botanical herbs, into their food-and-drink business, revitalizing the centuries-old Fabbrizii Amaro recipe and developing new, award-winning spirits such as Gin Rusagni.
