Marbellissima!
Superior Cape Breton Grappa
Many clients lament the poor quality of the grappas they sample.
Despair no more! This special limited release is sure to delight.
We’ve traipsed about the Cape Breton Highlands to find the perfect grape varietals for our Marbellisima! Grappa—our spirited nod to Italian tradition, crafted from the skins, and juice left behind after winemaking.
Our Marbellisima! Is a golden straw-colored brandy with grassy top notes, rounded out by a silky butterscotch mouthfeel, and a refined eucalyptus finish. It’s the perfect treat after a meal, a bold companion to your coffee as a caffe “correcto”(corretto for you Italian purists), or the secret ingredient in your next cocktail. (Grappa Limoncello, anyone?)
Looking for a Nova Scotian gift that wows? Marbellisima! is a must for connoisseurs and adventurous foodies alike.
Distiller's Notes
Travelling with ambulant distillers through northern France was an education all its own.
Marie, weathered, ageless and full of life, began my first day with “Lesson Number One: Alcohol is Flammable”.
She lit the cigarette dangling precariously from her crooked grin and with studied insouciance flung the wooden match into a steel barrel half filled with alcohol.
“Voila! Rien! It’s the vapours that burn.”
Of course, eventually, the alcohol did catch fire. As the flames whooshed up,she turned to me questioning,
“So, show me how to put it out”
I slid the metal cover over the drum, smothered the fire, and that was it—disaster averted.
Marie noted with satisfaction that I had not used water as that would have been a sacrilege - uselessly diluting the alcohol before its time.
I passed my first exam.
An ambulant distiller must be a true master of the craft. Each fruit carries its own personality—its own quirks and chemistry—and must be treated accordingly. From Normandy’s apple eau-de-vie (Calvados-style), pommeau (a fortified apple blend), and pear eau-de-vie (poire), to Brittany’s lambig, cider brandies, and sloe/prunelle (blackthorn) liqueurs, each region offers their own distinctive products to be savoured.
A Bit About the Label
For this special edition short run label, Below the Salt Partner Victoria,captures the heady feeling of late summer with her illustration that takes inspiration from Georgia O'Keeffe.