MANILA, Philippines - Liquor-maker Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. sees great growth potential in its craft spirits segment because of increased overseas demand for specialty spirits.
The company recently launched Manille Liqueur de Calamansi, a limoncello-like drink made from calamansi rinds.
The calamansi digestif is now distributed in Landmark, Family Mart, and Waltermart supermarkets as well as Filipiniana store Kultura Filipino and Duty Free outlets. It would also be sold in other major supermarkets nationwide.
Manille de Calamansi would also be among the Filipino products promoted in natural food trade shows in various countries such as the Berlin International Green Week which would be held this month.
The product is also eyed for exportation to the United States.
“The product is very encouraging, it has a lot of potential,†said Destileria Limtuaco president Olivia Limpe-Aw.
“The products we make are really catered for the mainstream market. We use international methods of making spirits but using Filipino ingredients. So for mainstream markets (overseas) they find this exciting because they do not have these ingredients and yet these are produced according to their quality standards so they are happy to purchase products like that,†she added.
The company sources calamansi rinds from the Tugdaan Center, a group of Mangyan tribesmen from Oriental Mindoro engaged in calamansi growing and processing.
Limpa-Aw said the company will expand sourcing of calamansi rinds as reception of the product become stronger.
The calamansi liqueur that retails for P320 per bottle joins Destileria Limtuaco’s roster of popular products like White Castle Whisky, Napoleon V.S.O.P Brandy, Maria Clara Sangria, El Hombre Tequila, and Toska Vodka.
Limpe-Aw noted that drinking preferences overseas have been shifting to craft spirits from mass-produced spirits, giving the company an opportunity to explore foreign markets.
“Abroad that’s the trend now, craft spirits. Craft spirits are produced in small batches, entailing more effort and more care in the making. That’s what people like right now. So there is an opportunity for medium-sized companies like us,†she said. “Specialty products are harder to make.â€
The company began exporting to the Unites States last year its Paradise Mango Liqueur and Amadeo Coffee Liqueur.
The company’s rising craft spirit line would become a new revenue stream for the company without the need for additional investment in equipment.
Destilleria Limtuaco is also looking at the potential of commercially producing basi, a wine made from rice.
“We are still working on the basi.We’re tweaking the formulation. Rice wine would also be nice but it would go against food security,†said Limpe-Aw.