The Principality’s distillery has come up with its own bitter orange liqueur and a gin made with local citrus fruit.
Every winter, Monaco’s gardeners crowd into the Principality’s many streets, harvesting the bitter oranges carefully tended for throughout the year, totally chemicals-free. The Principality’s 600 bitter orange trees produce fruit of an exceptional quality. During that period, local housewives are welcome to help themselves to the trucks full of oranges going about Monaco. The ten to fifteen thousand kilos harvested each year don’t all end up in homemade marmalade, however. Since 2017, “L’Orangerie,” Monaco’s first and only distillery, has been producing a unique bitter orange liqueur delighting locals and tourists alike.
“There was a time when Monaco was covering a much larger area, some 100 square kilometres, stretching as far as Sospel and La Turbie, including Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Menton. It was farmland where numerous olive and citrus trees grew. Boasting eight oil mills, it had its most significant income coming from citrus fruit, however. Back in the 17th century, its lemons were even destined to be delivered as far as Sweden!” is recounting founder of the Monaco distillery, an Irish-Italian, Philip Culazzo. Passionate about oenology, this man had the idea of launching an iconic product whose success only continues to grow.
“Walking through the streets of Monte-Carlo, I came to discover the treasure of bitter orange trees that the Principality has in store. It must be said that this tiny, legendary state was once prosperous agricultural land. Long before the rise of tourism, yachts and the Grand Prix, citrus production was a pillar of the local economy. In 2017, I opened the doors of Monaco’s first and only distillery, with the ambition of creating liqueurs and spirits giving an authentic taste of the Principality.” Mission accomplished!
A carob liqueur, a gin, a lemon-free limoncello and a rum
As soon as the original and well-balanced bitter orange liqueur established itself on the Monegasque, French and Italian markets, Philip Culazzo embarked on yet other adventures. Namely, the carob liqueur production developed around notes of caramel, coffee, dried fruit, gingerbread and maple syrup. This spirit’s strong character is well linked to the Principality’s history. An original and authentic creation indeed.
“One day, a Monegasque man came to demonstrate to me a carob seed. To this day, Monaco still has its 155 carob trees. Used since antiquity and now endemic, this tree has long been a vital resource for Mediterranean peoples. Monaco made no exception. During a famine, the Monegasques actually had to eat carob seeds to survive.” Monaco’s national tree, the carob, is therefore particularly dear to everyone’s heart. Philip Culazzo quickly realized how much this production may mean to the Principality. And in 2019, the first carob liqueur made in Monaco was launched.
Followed by a sunny gin based on local citrus fruit. Bitter and sweet oranges, limes, pink grapefruits, bergamot, citron, ginger and lemon thyme thus perfume this authentic spirit, enhanced by a Sichuan pepper touch. A truly remarkable cocktail of flavours to explore.
Next came the “mother mesccia,” developed in collaboration with the Princely Palace itself. Referring to 17th-century history, in Monegasque, “mesccia” means “mixture”. At that time, Monaco’s maritime activity was significant, and Genoese sailors were used to blending all kinds of ingredients in their barrels. Rum, vermouth and Marsala wine were thus part of this beverage, quickly adopted by the Principality. Thanks to an idea by Prince Albert II of Monaco, this spirit has now been revived as a Pure Single Rum made from a special sugarcane variety.
And last but not least, L’Orangerie’s latest creation is a magical limoncello. With the colour and flavour of a lemon, its secret recipe contains no such yellow fruit. It is less sweet and more aromatic than the well-known Italian liqueur.
Entirely made in Monaco using natural methods, these beverages have, in a way, become ambassadors of a certain art de vivre perpetuated by the Principality.
9 Rue de la Turbie
98000 Monaco
Tel: +377 99 90 43 38
https://www.distilleriedemonaco.com/
