THE GIN PASSPORT ATLAS - DISTILLERY STORY- PINNED ON THE MAP - EUROPE

The Birthplace of Gin....


I had the very fortunate opportunity to  meet Lorenzo at a tasting in London at Hedonism Wines, and it was lovely to hear the story behind Solaro directly from the person who brought it to life.


Lorenzo has lived and worked around the world, but the idea for Solaro Gin began much closer to home, at his family's home on Capri. He wanted to create something that captured the essence of the island while celebrating its history, supporting its local artisans and helping to preserve the heritage that makes Capri so special.


It was during a spell in Cape Town, however, that Lorenzo developed his interest and knowledge of gin. From there, the idea gradually evolved into a rather beautiful reality.


Solaro takes its name from Monte Solaro, the highest point on Capri, and the gin incorporates botanicals connected to the island and surrounding region. There are lemon blossoms foraged from the slopes of Monte Solaro, red juniper from Cilento, Amalfi lemon, myrtle berries and a subtle touch of Arabica coffee, which is hand roasted in Naples.


The result is wonderfully fragrant and layered. There is plenty of bright citrus and floral character, but the myrtle and juniper add depth, while that little hint of coffee brings something unexpectedly warm and earthy. It's smooth enough to sip neat, which is always a good sign in my book.


Then there's the bottle.


The beautiful hand-painted, hexagonal design takes inspiration from Capri's famous ceramics and tiled architecture, with the logo drawing particularly on the island's iconic Torre dell'Orologio, the clock tower in the Piazzetta.


There is even a clever little trick hidden in the design. Put two bottles together and the pattern joins up, reminding you that, well...two bottle are better than one!



I couldn't talk about an Italian gin without mentioning Salerno, because there is a fascinating connection between the city and the early history of distilled medicinal spirits.


The Schola Medica Salernitana, or Salerno Medical School, was one of medieval Europe's most important centres of medical learning. Herbal preparations were made using plants and herbs, including juniper, and distillation eventually became an important way of creating concentrated and more easily stored medicinal preparations.


The popular claim that “gin was born in Salerno 1,000 years ago” needs a little qualification, though. It wasn't gin in the modern sense, and there is no straightforward historical line from the Salerno medical school directly to the gin we drink today. Modern gin developed much later, with jenever in the Low Countries playing the important role in its evolution.



Still, I rather like the connection — especially when you're drinking a gin inspired by one of Italy's most beautiful corners.


Capri, lemons, juniper, coffee, ceramics and a little bit of history. Not a bad combination at all.

"From the slopes of Capri to a little piece of gin history"












Show me a bottle and

I'll tell you a story.