Distiller Notes
Alkemil is a line of traditional liqueurs developed by Fred Cremasco: bartender, herbalist, and alchemist. It’s the latter which inspired the name Alkemil, taken from the olden practice seeking to transform common metals into gold. The Alkemil spirits are inspired by 19th century recipes, but produced using unique modern techniques developed by Fred himself through countless experiments to enhance extraction and boost flavor. Fred also draws on his bartending career to ensure the Alkemil products are balanced and useful with a freshness and energy that sets them apart from most other examples. Alchermes, a red-hued liqueur, originated in Persia in the 800’s as a medicinal tonic and was named after the beetle used to color it: al-qirmiz. The recipe was adapted by a Florentine pharmacy in the 1700s, again for medicinal uses, and is still used locally as a digestivo and to color traditional pastries. Its warming spices would pair well with brown spirits, and also take well to a spritz.
Federico 'Fred' Cremasco is a remarkable young producer of Vermouth, Bitter, Amaro, Gin and Fernet from the town of Polcenigo, in Friuli. You could call him an herbalist; he devises recipes for his products from combinations of botanicals, some foraged wild nearby, some grown by him, some brought in from other areas, then creates his elixirs from these botanicals using varying methods of extraction.
He has experimented endlessly, trying out different methods of extraction (alcoholic distillation, steam distillation, cold maceration of fresh herbs, cold maceration of dried herbs, and hot maceration of fresh and dried herbs) to discover which method best suits the individual botanical. He then devises recipes for his alcoholic elixirs from combinations of these botanical extractions.
For most of the products, each botanical is treated individually, to make sure that the exact right level of extraction is reached for each substance; many producers throw everything in together (indeed many producers buy pre-made 'amaro base' from large companies who specialize in such things, just adding sugar and water). Fred takes enormous care in his work and the result is a collection of some of the highest quality spirits with layers of flavor and a sense of place.
First prepared by 13th century Italian monks as herbal medicines and elixirs, Liqueurs are distilled spirits that have been combined with flavoring agents. A range of herbs, spices, nuts, fruits and flowers can be used, and a sweetener such as sugar or corn syrup is often added. While typically rather sweet, some examples are herbaceous or tart and pair exceptionally well with desserts or act as a delightful addition to cocktails.