It's time for a rebranding: the Opificio we know is becoming Opificio Alkemico.
The history, ideas, and experiments remain, along with future projects: a brand that is an ambassador for the region, producing artisanal distillates and liqueurs of the highest quality.
Who is Federico?
Federico Cremasco is an alchemist in constant dialogue with nature, a researcher who experiments with new combinations and revives flavors.
He is also a herbalist who cultivates and cares for plants, day after day.
The Origins
The company was born from Federico's passion for plants and nature. From a young age, he explored the woods of his homeland, collecting medicinal and botanical herbs to create homemade liqueurs with his mother, Vanda.
He began by cultivating plants and spices in the meadows near his home, at the foot of the Friulian mountains, while working as a bartender in clubs at night.
The Experimentation
Federico became passionate about an ancient herbal from 1946 and began experimenting with extraction techniques to create essential oils and timeless fragrances.
In 2014, he opened his first laboratory in a disused old pharmacy in the center of Polcenigo (PN), one of Italy's most beautiful villages. Here, for the first time, collected plants were transformed into infusions and distillates.
Thus began an intense period of study and research in the world of spirits, alongside the botanical project "Le Erbe di Federico" (Federico's Herbs).
The Dream
Federico has one goal: to create the ultimate Italian cocktail, the Negroni. He wants to create an excellent version, using only top-quality Italian ingredients.
This vision led to the creation of the Gin43, Bitter 34, and Vermouth25 triptych, inspired by an ancient recipe from his herbarium, reinterpreted in a contemporary style.
The numbers indicate the number of herbs and botanicals present in each product.
The Present and the Future
In 2020, Federico moved the laboratory to the new distillery in Polcenigo, in a location surrounded by the nature of the Friulian foothills, on an island encircled by the Gorgazzo River.
Here, he fulfilled another dream: a botanical garden where visitors can get up close and personal with the plants he personally cultivates and cares for.
This is how the Alkemil line was born: natural, artisanal liqueurs, produced in limited quantities, with an herbal profile and designed for mixing.
A journey in continuous evolution: be a part of it.
The Distillery
The distillery is located on an island surrounded by the Gorgazzo stream, in Polcenigo (PN). It is here that Federico chose to work in close contact with nature and the territory, creating quality spirits and liqueurs.
The magic of GIN43 comes from the traditional distillation method using the Johann still, dedicated to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Handmade in Germany, in the Black Forest, it is made of 99.9% copper and is unique of its kind, custom-designed for Federico's needs.
Contact us to arrange a visit to the distillery.
