What did you do before establishing Zona B Distillery? Before opening my distillery I worked as brewer in the first craft brewery in Verona. What made you decide to move into distilling instead of brewing? I decide to create my gin distillery because in the brewery I I could not express my creativity. I love the beverage world and I wanted to create something that stemmed from my passion for nature and medicinal herbs.
What is the meaning and story behind your brand name? It took two years to find the right name. At one point we said, 'what is the purest and simplest raw material to characterise an aroma?' The answer was ‘terpenes', the biomolecules produced by plants, especially conifers, which form their resins and essential oils and give them their distinctive aromas. The 'Zona B' named translates as 'Area B' and consists of family initials - Zaghi, Oscar, Nora, Alessandro and Betti. Can you tell us more about your distillery and your still? I found the building where Zona B was born in a day of research. I don't think it was luck but a sign of destiny. I chose our 200L Carterhead still with a reflux columns because it is very versatile. I can use it as a simple pot still, include a column or both columns, or use the gin basket too. If used well it also has a very high efficiency.
Can you tell us more about your distillation process? For my gins I use a hybrid technique because I put the hardier botanicals (such as juniper, roots, and woody matrices) in the boiler while the more delicate ones (flowers and leaves) in the gin basket. For our Terpeni Fiori Gin I use the flowers of winter magnolia. What are your favourite ways to drink your gin/s? Our classic gin is versatile; you can drink it neat, or with Tonic Water the citrus notes really come out. Our floral gin is best in a Gin & Tonic. Desert Island Gins: Which 3 gins would you take with you?
What is your ambition for Zona B and Terpeni Gin in the years to come?
I would like Zone B to become a reference point in my areas, and find a good national distributor. What is coming up next - any exciting plans? In the coming winter I will produce ‘Terpeni Radici’, based on roots. You Might Also Like...
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