World's Best Awarded from Val d'Aveto, Italy in London Competition
The Fugazzi family, renowned for their engineering background, have made a surprising foray into the world of spirits production. This transformation began with the discovery of an antique recipe for a bitter, hidden away in a century-old tin cookie box.
The recipe, belonging to an ancestor who was previously known only for making a bitter, sparked a new chapter in the Fugazzi family's story. Fabrizio Fugazzi, the young entrepreneur and spirits producer, explains that his family had a family-run engineering studio founded by his father Giorgio. However, the discovery of the antique recipe led to the creation of a spirits production company.
The family set up a distillery in Rezzoaglio, Val d'Aveto, and started the production of the Amaro Fabbrizii in the summer of 2021. The bitter, which had won the gold medal at the Genoa Expo of 1906, was forgotten after the death of its creator, Giovanni Fabbrizii, but has been brought back to prominence by his great-grandchildren.
The Amaro Fabbrizii, along with the newly introduced Gin Rusagni, have been met with great success. The spirits reflect a combination of traditional Italian craftsmanship and modern spirits innovation. They have been recognised at international spirits competitions, receiving awards for taste, quality, and authenticity.
In June 2025, the reserve version of the Amaro Fabbrizii won the gold medal at the World Liqueur Awards 2025, making it the best Amaro of the year. The Fugazzi family's Gin Rusagni also won double gold and silver medals at the Fancy Food Show in New York. This prestigious recognition solidifies their standing in the craft spirits market.
Despite the lack of detailed specifics on the exact awards or the full historical narrative of their transition from engineering to spirits production, it is clear that the Fugazzi family's pivot to spirits embodies a successful melding of their heritage with a new, artisan-driven business direction. The family's spirits, particularly the Amaro Fabbrizii and Gin Rusagni, have garnered acclaim and have a growing presence in the market, with their annual turnover estimated at around 150,000 euros. They have also entered the GDO, with partnerships with Coop, Conad, and Gulliver.
For those seeking more precise award titles or in-depth history, specialized industry sources or the company's official communications might offer more thorough details. Nonetheless, the Fugazzi family's journey serves as an inspiring example of how a family's heritage and expertise can be leveraged to create quality, award-winning spirits that resonate with consumers.
- Amid their engineering background, the Fugazzi family's small business, Fabbri Spirits, has expanded into the food-and-drink sector, specifically spirit production, due to the discovery of a century-old bitter recipe.
- The success of the family's spirits, such as the Amaro Fabbrizii and Gin Rusagni, has been acknowledged in international spirits competitions, earning them numerous awards for taste, quality, and authenticity.
- The Fugazzi family's new lifestyle, centered around entrepreneurship and spirits production, has not only led to the creation of a new small business but also developed unique recipes that cater to a growing market.
- With their spirits gaining traction and an annual turnover of approximately 150,000 euros, the Fugazzi family's story illustrates the potential for finance and innovation in the complex intersection of tradition and modernity.
