Artisan Spirits moves into vermouth

by Amy Hopkins

Scotland-based agency Artisan Spirits has launched the first brand of its own: a premium Italian vermouth created in Piedmont.

Cucielo Vermouth di Torino comes in two expressions, bianco and rosso, which are created using 100% natural Italian botanicals and aromas. Andy Holmes, founder and managing director of Artisan Spirits, collaborated with Torino Distillati’s master blender, Carlo Vergnano, on Cucielo’s flavour profiles. “Carlo has many, many years of experience and knowledge of the vermouth category, which is simply outstanding,” said Holmes. “Carlo’s family business dates back to the early 1920s and Carlo himself completed his Master’s thesis on vermouth production back in 1957. “[He] understood our mission and after many months of perfecting, has helped us develop two superb profiles of vermouth." Cucielo’s branding and design are inspired by the migrating cuckoo, which journeys from west Africa to Scotland each year, travelling the length of Italy. The packaging features an Art Deco-style design by Oveja & Remi Studio in Argentina, paying homage to the ‘golden era’ of vermouth in the 1930s. All materials used in the production of Cucielo are from renewable sources and/or are 100% recyclable. No plastic is used in its packaging, and its label uses natural cotton paper. The brand’s two expressions are bottled at 16.8% abv and have an RRP of €22-24 (US$25-28) in specialist retail outlets. Artisan Spirits currently represents Angostura’s bitters, rums and amaro, as well as Portobello Road Gin across EMEAA, excluding the UK.