Producer
Insulæ / Insulae
Insulæ (Insulae) is a Sicilian company that creates and produces a range of spirits and liqueurs inspired by the Mediterranean territory, with particular focus on gins flavored with local botanicals and a vermouth based on Marsala.
- Sicily · Italy
- Since 2019
- 3 products
The story
According to the official site, Insulæ S.r.l. is a Sicilian company founded in January 2019 by two young Sicilian entrepreneurs. Since the launch of its first product, INSULÆ Sicilian Gin, the company has focused on telling the story of Sicily through distillates and alcoholic beverages.
Production philosophy
To tell Sicily and the Mediterranean through products that combine tradition and innovation: use of local botanicals, evocations of the island landscape and attention to territorial identity as a narrative element of the bottles.
Territory
Production and inspiration: Sicily (Italy). The brand declares commercial presence also in foreign markets (e.g., Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Malta, America).
Production method
Declared production in small batches (small batch) using copper pot stills heated with direct fire; for the Vermouth the base used is aged Marsala (see notes). Some products are obtained by maceration (e.g., rosoli).
Distillation
Distillation in copper pot stills with direct fire (small batch / small batches), as stated on the official product sheets.
Ageing
For the Vermouth 'Mediterraneo' aged Marsala is used for the base, matured at least 12 months in oak barrels; the gins are presented as unaged (fresh distillates).
Characteristics
- Type
- Producer
- Categories
- Sicilian gins
- Marsala-based vermouth
- prickly pear liqueurs (rosolio)
- Mediterranean aperitifs
- artisanal spirits
- Raw materials
- grain alcohol from Italian cereals (for gin)
- Sicilian botanicals and citrus (lemon, orange, mandarin, jasmine, etc.)
- capers and caperberries (for Saline Gin)
- sea salt from the salt pans (Trapani/Paceco) (for Saline Gin)
- prickly pear (for Donna Rosa rosolio)
- aged Marsala wine (base for the Vermouth Mediterraneo)
- herbs and spices for vermouth aromatization (e.g., artemisia/wormwood, gentian, orange, cinnamon) - as indicated on product sheets
- Casks and ageing vessels
- oak barrels (for aging the Marsala used in the vermouth base)
- Representative products
- INSULÆ Sicilian Gin (Sicilian Gin)
- INSULÆ Saline Gin (Saline - Sicilian Gin) - 70cl
- Vermouth INSULÆ Mediterraneo - 75cl
- Liqueur DONNA ROSA Rosolio of Prickly Pear - 70cl
- (available from retailers: Shiratama Umeshu from Akashi 50cl - present on sales platforms)
What makes it distinctive
- Brand owned by INSULÆ S.r.l. (stated on the official site).
- Declared founding: January 2019 (official source).
- INSULÆ Saline Gin: a saline London Dry Gin, ABV 47%, made with capers and salt from the salt pans (Trapani/Paceco).
- INSULÆ Sicilian Gin: produced with botanicals from Sicily; strength indicated around 42% on retailer technical sheets.
- Vermouth 'Mediterraneo': red vermouth based on Marsala aged at least 12 months, ABV 18% (retailer technical sheets).
- Donna Rosa (Rosolio al Fico d'India): liqueur based on prickly pear marketed with strength indicated around 20% on product sheets.