By Bryle B. Suralta
In a country that consumes 22 million cases of gin per year, Filipinos, undeniably, have an unparalleled love for the spirit. Different variations of such are a go-to for a typical inuman (drinking) session—gin and tonic, pineapple/cranberry gin and, yes, the classic gin bulag. Yet, by the numbers, the Philippines only constitutes 3 percent of the $3-billion global gin market, which means that, though we have the market for it, we might not be getting the same quality gin as our counterparts in different parts of the world.
And that’s where Full Circle Craft Distillers Co. comes in. The distillery wants to be a game-changer in the Filipino craft spirits industry. Recognized as “Philippines Distillery of the Year” at the Hong Kong International Spirits Competition in 2018, in addition to the silver medals bestowed by the Cathay Pacific International Wine & Spirit Competition, Full Circle prides itself on precision, excellence, authenticity and the collection of citrus that the country offers.
Located on the foothills of Mount Makiling in Laguna, Full Circle Craft Distillers Co. was established to promote the very best of the Philippines and hopefully place the country on the global spirits map.
The idea behind Full Circle was to use its flagship spirit, ARC Botanical Gin as a way to promote and highlight the beauty of the Philippines, and its wondrous array of botanicals, from citrus to mango to exotic flowers.
ARC Botanical Gin is handcrafted from 28 botanicals, 22 of which are sourced and foraged from across the Philippines. This citrus-forward, botanically-rich gin highlights native botanicals across the country, from Benguet pine buds to dalandan (native oranges) from Quezon. Full Circle also uses fresh mango in their recipe, sourced from the owners’ family farm in Dasol, Pangasinan. “From an international perspective, that’s what sets it apart,” adds owner Matthew Westfall, referring to the company’s access to a range of native citruses.
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could create a gin that sort of had that geography,” he muses. “You’re tasting a gin and, essentially, you’re tasting all the islands.”
For Full Circle, each native botanical sourced from a different province in the Philippines has a story to tell, and Full Circle takes it upon itself to tell those stories, and to bring them to consumers.
Perfecting the craft
Full Circle’s automated 450-liter still made by CARL Artisan Distilleries and Brewing Systems in Germany allows for a slow distilling process, carefully managed over an eight-hour run. Few craft distilleries enjoy this level of control, and quality, which they achieve through state-of-the-art automation, a custom-designed copper whiskey helmet, and seven controllable copper plates in the column. Steam heat is carefully controlled, as well, while the hybrid copper pot still is equipped with an automated agitator.
Full Circle spent more than four years perfecting its gin recipe, working closely with Europe’s leading master distiller, Dr. Klaus Hagmann, the creative genius behind some of the world’s best craft gin brands. Initially working together at his distillery outside Stuttgart, Germany, Matthew would carry maletas (suitcases) of fresh Philippine botanicals, and would concoct variations of Full Circle’s gin recipe—toying around with flavors extracted from various citruses such as pomelo, calamansi and dalandan, refining the aroma of cinnamon and ensuring the all-important juniper came through.
The team worked through some 35 variations of their flagship gin recipe, with a year of test distilling on their 25-liter pilot still at the plant in Calamba, until they achieved the desired results.
A compelling origin story
The origins of Full Circle Craft Distillers Co. can be traced back to Matthew and his wife Laurie’s own personal experiences in the Philippines, to Matthew’s grandfather and the couple’s fascination with exotic botanicals.
Matthew’s grandfather took on Filipino citizenship in 1926, while working as a distiller and chemist on extracting tropical fruits and flavors for a line of soft drinks. Meanwhile, Matthew and Laurie had also been inspired by Spanish Augustinian priest Father Blanco’s seminal thesis, Flora de Filipinas (1837), in which he studied, analyzed and documented the Philippines’ array of botanicals.
The Westfalls also tried their best to explore artisanal distilleries across Europe, learning more about traditional techniques and processes and meeting master distillers of the finest brands. In southern Germany alone, 27,000 small-scale distillers create everything from eaux de vie (clear fruit brandies known as schnapps and edelbrand) to dry gin to fine whiskies.
Reinventing what a distillery should be
The distillery will host a museum, tasting room and private events space, where Full Circle will host public tours, industry events, food and spirit pairings with leading chefs, gin masterclasses, and educational events and trainings. In time, Full Circle will be both a destination to build a cadre of brand ambassadors for ARC Botanical Gin, and a venue to celebrate the best the Philippines has to offer.
A range of other artisanal spirits are in development, as well, each featuring the flavors of the Philippines.
As a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered export-oriented entity, Full Circle currently exports to the US, UK and Singapore, where its spirits can be found in leading bars, hotels and resorts.
Full Circle’s artisanal spirits are available online @boozy.ph, in select Kultura and Tesoro’s branches, and in Duty Free Philippines. For more information, contact Susan Joven of Visions and Expressions or Full Circle Craft Distillers Co. at hello@fullcircledistillers.com.
