Opificio Alkemico Launches Europe's First Shiitake Mushroom Liqueur: "Umami Spirit" is Born, Revolutionizing Mixology
POLCENIGO (PN), 05 June 2026 ‒ In a market constantly seeking innovation and new flavors, the Friulian artisanal distillery Opificio Alkemico marks a European first with the launch of a pioneering product: the first Shiitake Mushroom Liqueur. An absolute novelty that is part of the new TAILEENS line and promises to become an indispensable ingredient for avant-garde mixology.
The fruit of the vision of Federico Cremasco ‒ founder, bartender and herbalist of Opificio ‒ this liqueur was created to capture the quintessence of the "fifth flavor", umami, and translate it into liquid form. While the mushroom spirits trend is booming globally, with an almost exclusively North American origin, Opificio Alkemico positions itself as the first to introduce this specific and sought-after variant in the Old Continent, choosing the shiitake mushroom, known for its intense and complex savory and earthy notes.
"Our philosophy has always been to combine a deep botanical knowledge of our territory with a drive for experimentation", explains Federico Cremasco. "With the Shiitake Mushroom Liqueur, we wanted to create not only a product to be tasted, but a real tool for bartenders. A 'flavor modifier' capable of adding depth, complexity and that umami note which is one of the strongest trends in contemporary mixing."
The production process, as for all Opificio creations, is rigorously artisanal. High-quality shiitake mushrooms are processed and infused according to the techniques developed by Cremasco in his laboratory in Polcenigo, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, where the distillery is located. The result is an amber-colored liqueur with a surprising aromatic profile in which notes of undergrowth and toasted mushroom blend with a balanced sweetness and a long, savory and persistent finish.
The Shiitake Mushroom Liqueur lends itself to multiple uses: perfect neat as a digestif or meditation liqueur, it expresses its maximum potential in mixing. It is ideal for reinterpreting great classics such as the Manhattan (replacing vermouth), the Old Fashioned or for creating innovative Sours and drinks with a savory character.
With this launch, Opificio Alkemico not only enriches its range ‒ which already includes the JERBARIS (gin and bitters) and Sagrestan (vermouth) lines ‒ but also confirms itself as one of the most dynamic and innovative realities in the panorama of Italian craft spirits, capable of engaging with international trends while maintaining an identity strongly linked to quality and authenticity.
