A unique reinvention of the historic Italian Rosolio – the original Aperitivo drunk by Italian royalty – award-winning ITALICUS is the perfect choice for a new Spritz experience. 

Grown, harvested and distilled in Italy, ITALICUS delivers fresh tones of ripe bergamot – balanced with a light, bitter and floral spice. Championing the humble bergamot – a fragrant citrus fruit that grows throughout the Mediterranean – ITALICUS is produced at a family-owned distillery, established in 1906 in Moncalieri, Torino. Each of the ingredients that goes into making ITALICUS are sourced from across Italy, including: IGP bergamot from a UNESCO-protected area in Calabria; cedro from Sicilia; Roman chamomile from Lazio; and melissa balm, lavender, yellow roses and gentian from Northern Italy. 

To make the award-winning Aperitivo, bergamot and cedro peels are infused in cold water to release their essential oils – in a time-honoured process called ‘Sfumatura’ – before being blended with the other botanicals, which have been macerated together for several days in neutral grain spirit, to create the final liquid. 

ITALICUS was created by world-class bartender and the authority in Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo. Masterfully conceived using a combination of a recipe found in a book that dates back to the 1800s, combined with experience of his own family’s recipes that go back many generations, the mixologist’s reinvention of Italian Rosolio – once known as Aperitivo di Corte (or the Drink of Kings) has become the top trending Aperitivo brand today.  

Hailing from the beautiful Amalfi coast in the south of Italy, Giuseppe’s passion for mixology stems from his strong Italian heritage, dating back to his childhood, when he used to watch his mother make homemade Limoncello.

"Launching ITALICUS has been an incredible moment in my career – marking the end of a life-long ambition to bring back the Rosolio category,” remarked Giuseppe Gallo. “Since childhood I’ve dreamed of creating a quintessential expression of what makes Italy the most remarkable and unforgettable country in the world, and ITALICUS is just that for me. Bottling the essence of La Bella Italia Rosolio, meaning ‘the dew of the sun’ and creating a sip of Italy.”

ITALICUS is best enjoyed in a classic Spritz with Prosecco or Champagne, or in a modern version of the Spritz, made with Grapefruit soda or tonic water. In a nod to the classic Italian tradition of Aperitivo hour, ITALICUS serves are garnished with three olives, to balance the floral aromas with a touch of saltiness.

ITALICUS’s award-winning bottle was designed by creative agency Stranger & Stranger, with every element of the design curated to encapsulate the stripped back elegance and charm of Italy. The iconic stopper depicts Bacchus posed like Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian man harvesting local bergamot, encompassed by the irregular shape of the fruit – referencing Rosolio’s Renaissance credentials. The black and white colouring of the cap is inspired by Italian gothic architecture and the colour of the glass is inspired by the Grotta Azzura in Capri and the aquamarine waters of the Amalfi Coast. 

 

ITALICUS is one of the world’s most awarded aperitivo globally. Amongst an array of international accolades, ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto was awarded Best New Spirit 2017 at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, and Top Trending Liquor Brand by Drinks International in both 2019 and 2020. 

In April 2020, ITALICUS entered into a partnership with beverage group Pernod Ricard,

https://rosolioitalicus.com