Captain Kooper: the premium gin born on a boat trip.

Have you ever had those moments when you feel like you have an idea or a dream that's hard to achieve and you're scared to take the plunge? Well, then we recommend you keep reading, because the Capitano Kooper is a beautiful example of how even projects that seem most difficult to accomplish can become a reality, and successfully!
 
In fact, for Andrea Gallottini, the ingenious creator of the brand, after working for years in the food & beverage world as a distillation technician, the thought of creating his own gin seemed utopian. And instead, after taking the plunge, he decided to bring his personal project to life, investing time, energy, and resources into its realization, thus giving birth to Capitano Kooper, a unique and distinctive brand that offers intense flavors and minimalist, appealing packaging. But let's immediately see in what context this brand was born and what its flagship products are!

Capitano Kooper, when a boat trip changes your life

As mentioned, Andrea Gallottini initially thought his project was unfeasible. But sometimes a day like any other can really change your life: in fact, the idea to create the Capitano Kooper brand was born during a sailing trip with some friends who encouraged Andrea to embark on his wonderful adventure in the world of Gin. At that moment, they were docked in Capodistria, which in Slovenian is called Koper, and that's how the name "Capitano Kooper" was born, crowning his dream and becoming a new starting point.
In November 2018, the first limited production of 1,100 bottles per year began, sourcing and selecting the most suitable botanical species in Italy for the creation of his excellent gin. 
But now, let's immediately see what the philosophy and products of this brand are!

Capitano Kooper: philosophy and mission

Andrea Gallottini's starting idea is to offer the public a truly aromatic smooth product, perfect to enjoy at room temperature in a wide glass, creating the ideal conditions to capture all the nuances of bitterness and gin.

The production of Capitano Kooper's distillates has been carefully studied in every detail.
The two flagship products are GinKooper and AmaroKooper, for which rare and sought-after spices are used, but above all Italian botanical specialties, coming from the Adriatic region, such as juniper, orange, coriander, Florentine iris, wormwood, and gentian, which are soaked in a solution of alcohol and water and then distilled and brought to the correct alcohol level after a long maturation period.
The artisanal process and the quality of the ingredients determine what is the main strength of Capitano Kooper's products, namely the aroma, which is very intense and enveloping, balsamic and smooth on the palate. Tasting Gin or Amaro from Capitano Kooper means experiencing new perceptions, new aromas.

But the eye also wants its part, and Andrea Gallottini knows this well. The bottles of Capitano Kooper feature exclusive packaging. The glass has considerable thickness and the bottles are handmade: the decorations that represent the sky and the sea are applied manually bottle by bottle.

It is easy to realize the uniqueness of each piece, which is therefore unique and unrepeatable. The case in which the bottle is placed creates the perfect frame for an aromatic, elegant, and precious product, with an intense and balsamic scent.

GinKooper and AmaroKooper, excellence in a bottle

GinKooper was the first distillate created, a long-desired dream of Andrea Gallottini and the brand's flagship product. It is obtained from a rigorous selection of botanicals, meticulously crafted with long infusion times, limiting the single production to 1,100 bottles. The various stages of distillation are collected to preserve all the aromas, blending the heart of the distillate with the initial herbaceous part (heads) and the part with warmer notes (tails) to maintain the aromatic profile. Following distillation, there is a resting phase of about 40 days, after which bottling begins.
A particular feature of GinKooper is that it is not filtered, in order to retain all the aromatic richness of the botanicals, especially that of juniper oil, which would otherwise be lost.
GinKooper measures 42 alcoholic degrees and combines a crystalline aspect with a unique intensity of juniper aroma that recalls pine resin and a slight citrus note. On the palate, the juniper notes are very persistent and accompanied by citrus with a very faint bitter hint; the overall extreme smoothness impressively attenuates the alcoholic perception. These characteristics make it a very versatile product, it can be enjoyed neat at room temperature or on the rocks and used for all types of cocktails.
GinKooper is perfect for savoring solo or for creating various drinks based on gin, ideal for sipping while enjoying a toast or a savory snack. It will be a truly chic aperitif!

The second gem of the brand is AmaroKooper, a liqueur born about a year after the gin launch and sharing the same philosophy, where the selection and processing of botanicals are at the core of the product idea. Again, the infusion times play a fundamental role.
The botanicals used are: gentian root, sage leaves, angelica seeds, melilot flowers, licorice root, elderflower, and cinchona calisaya. These are infused to macerate in a solution of ethanol and water for a long time, and once filtered, they enter into the composition of the amaro together with water, a small amount of sugar, and the missing alcohol to reach an alcohol content of 35°.
The secret ingredient is the same juniper distillate used for GinKooper, which creates continuity between the products in the line and gives what is the distinctive mark of Capitano Kooper. The aroma is herbal with light floral notes where melilot stands out, the taste is strong, bitter, with a good structure that makes it full and round without highlighting the alcohol notes. 
AmaroKooper is the ideal digestif to sip after a meal. Thanks to its bitter notes, it pairs well with fine chocolate, enriching it with aromatic nuances. AmaroKooper is also excellent to enjoy with artisan cakes or with almond or chocolate cookies.

AmaroKooper and GinKooper are perfect for sipping neat, at room temperature, or on the rocks, but also mixed to create original and aromatic cocktails: Gin Tonic, London Mule, Negroni, or mixed with prosecco, they are absolutely perfect.
In short, all you have to do is try! Which one will you start with?

S&M