FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 15 OF 40
LA DISTILLERIE DE MONACO - Monaco
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
Today we are taking a peek into the world of the jet-set and heading to one of the most glamorous destinations on the Mediterranean — Monaco.
Famous for fast cars, luxury yachts and the legendary Formula One Grand Prix, Monaco is not usually somewhere you would immediately associate with agriculture or distilling. However, look beyond the glittering façade and there is a fascinating history of citrus groves, olive trees and Mediterranean cultivation hiding beneath the surface.
This is exactly what inspired Philip Culazzo, founder of La Distillerie de Monaco. Rather than creating another luxury product for the Principality, he wanted to reconnect with Monaco’s agricultural heritage and create spirits that reflected the place itself.
Long before tourism transformed Monaco, citrus production was an important part of local life. Bitter orange trees, known locally as bigaradiers, still line parts of the Principality today, providing a reminder of a very different Monaco.
In 2015, Philip approached the local authorities with ideas for making use of this forgotten resource, eventually leading to the creation of L’Orangerie, a bitter orange liqueur made from locally grown fruit. The success of this helped establish La Distillerie de Monaco as the Principality’s first and only distillery.
The next chapter was Gin aux Agrumes — a citrus-led London Dry Gin that celebrates Monaco’s Mediterranean character.
It combines juniper with locally sourced citrus and other botanicals, including bitter orange, sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, citron and lemon thyme.
The bottle itself reflects the elegance of Monaco, with an Art Deco-inspired design and a vintage-style label depicting a view of the Rock — a nod to the history and architecture of the Principality.
It is a wonderfully bright and fresh gin, bursting with citrus but still balanced by classic gin character. It feels like sunshine in a bottle — exactly what you would expect from a Riviera spirit.
My cocktail today is the The F1 Cocktail — a fitting tribute to Monaco’s most famous event.
A final thought: in a place better known for supercars and champagne, it is rather wonderful that one of Monaco’s newest symbols is actually rooted in something much older — a simple Mediterranean orange tree.
Behind the glitz of the Principality lies a forgotten landscape of orchards, oranges and artisan spirits.
The F1 Cocktail
- 50ml Gin aux Agrumes
- 100ml Spuma Polara
- 15ml Lemon juice
- 10ml Tropical/Passion Fruit Syrup
- Orange zest garnish
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."