The brand was acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2019. In 2015, Biggar & Leith was formed, to develop spirits from small, family-owned distilleries in Europe.[1] The company approached the Vergnano family, which has been distilling gin since the 1970s at Torino Distillati in Moncalieri in the Piedmont region of Italy.[2][3][4] Malfy Originale and Malfy Gin Con Limone were launched in the United States in March 2016,[5][6] and are available in 40 countries as of October 2017.[7] Distilled by the Vergnano family at their distillery, Malfy was the first Italian gin to be imported into the US.[1][8] Gin is typically considered to have originated in Holland in the 17th century, but the company asserts that monks in Italy were distilling juniper-based medicinal spirits as far back as 1050.[2][9]
Description
For Malfy Gin Con Limone, a mix of Amalfi Coast and Sicilian lemon peels are steeped in alcohol made from Italian grain, and pressed in a traditional basket press.[2][3][9] The extract is added to the mix of botanicals: juniper from Italian berries, coriander, cassia, licorice, grapefruit peel and orange peel, and distilled in a vacuum still at a low temperature.[4][10] It is bottled at 41% abv.[4] The taste has been compared to limoncello.[2] The Chicago Tribune said it "features a bit of bitter lemon-rind character crossed with a dash of lurking sweetness," with the botanicals in the background.[11]
Malfy Gin Originale combines Italian juniper and five botanicals with Italian winter wheat spirit and is bottled at 41% abv, using water from Monviso.[7]