Created by an Osteria Giulia bartender and Toronto chef, Cicchetto is Toronto's latest locally made alcoholic brand specializing in limoncello and other Italian-style liqueurs.
When Loris Murru got laid off from his bartending job during the pandemic, he’d lost his direction and thought about returning home to Italy for good. Out of desperation, he called his parents in Italy, who told him not to give up on Toronto just yet.
“I felt very confused when I got laid off,” recalls Murru. “My parents asked me then what I was good at in life, and my answer was ‘I know how to make drinks!’ They said something right there I will never forget: ‘So make a drink and sell it!’ That made me think like never before.”
This conversation gave Murru the courage he needed to start his own business with what he knew best: drinks, inspired by his Italian heritage. Soon, Cicchetto limoncello was born.
Along with Chef Giacomo Pasquini, the two began experimenting with each of their family’s Italian liqueur recipes, bringing them together and tweaking them for the modern drinker or bartender.
“I consider myself a bit of an alchemist,” says Murru. “I think the biggest secret of Cicchetto is in its simplicity—a very well-balanced liqueur, yet also a sweet and sour, new old potion.”
Having tended bars around the world for 20 years, Murru’s aim with Cicchetto was to bring to life a more fine-tuned limoncello that could serve a greater range of uses as a light but flavourful base.
“Many bartenders nowadays are forced to use very sugary products, often filled with sulphites and chemical agents, and mass produced. Limoncello means tradition, artisanal methods of production, family, gatherings with friends,” says Murru. “I wanted and needed to create a balanced liqueur that’s not too sweet, not too boozy, and so versatile you could use it for various cocktails, and even in the kitchen.”
Many store-bought limoncellos today can taste overwhelming with sugar and artificial additives, but Cicchetto’s recipe uses only natural ingredients to maintain a perfect balance of citrus-rich flavours that can enhance any recipe, from cocktails and desserts to hot meals. Murru especially recommends using their Limone limoncello for a citrus tiramisu, or try their mandarin-based liqueur, Mandarino, in your dressing for duck breast.
“Cicchetto is produced following a family recipe but made using modern equipment at a certified distillery,” explains Murru. “We use natural citrus peels with all the pith discarded, so that all the bitterness is nowhere to be tasted in the final product.”
Cicchetto's unique flavours are the result of countless recipe experiments between Murru and Pasquini, as well as thorough marketing research to figure out how else they could bring these traditional drinks into the 21st century.
Beginning with the brand’s identity and concept, Murru and Pasquini searched everywhere for a name that could summarize the simple authenticity of their brand-new liqueurs. This moment came for them spontaneously about two years ago.
“Our name came when, at the end of our dinner, one of my dear friends asked, ‘Can we have a cicchetto of your liqueurs?,’” recalls Murru. “That was the exact lightning moment. Cicchetto is the Italian term for a shot glass, which is how our liqueurs are usually consumed—one sip at a time instead of in one go.”
A name secured, Murru and Pasquini then spent the next five months working on a bottle label worthy of their hard work.
“We wanted our label to inspire simplicity, genuineness, naturality, and to give a sense of artisanal products inside,” says Murru. “The shape of the bottle was also a big step. Most freezers and fridges don’t have much space, especially those in restaurants and bars which are filled with other products. Regular limoncello bottles are too tall to fit nicely, so we designed a smaller bottle for those needs.”
When Murru showed Cicchetto to his current employer at Osteria Giulia, it was love at first sight. That was an important moment for the duo, and they’ve come very far since then.
They’re currently working on revamping another Italian classic: nocino. Cicchetto Nocino will be made with 100% Canadian ingredients, including black walnuts from the Niagara region as the base of the liqueur. Keep an eye out for this very merry release from the team in Christmas 2022.
To be released even sooner, Cicchetto’s ready-to-drink line of canned cocktails is planned to hit retailers and liquor store shelves this spring. Made with Cicchetto's liqueur base, quinine extract, and natural lemon and citrus oils, the Cicchetto Spritz is an “Authentic Italian Aperitivo and Tonic” to be sipped from a sleek 355mL can.
To begin, the Cicchetto Spritz will be available in classic Limone and Pompelmo, a new grapefruit flavour made only for the Spritz (for now).
If you’re a fan of their packaging and design, you’ll soon be able to order items from their new clothing line directly on their website by the end of the month.
Besides these exciting releases this year, the team has also been scouting locations in the city to open Cicchetto’s first official distillery, after which they’ll be able to sell their bottled liqueurs directly to the public.
For now, establishments with liquor licenses like restaurants, bars, and hotels can get Cicchetto Limone and Mandarino delivered via their company directory or their official agent.
Despite having taken off with their bold, new take on Italian classics, the Cicchetto team hopes to use their humble beginnings to inspire others to trust their gut and follow their passion, even if things seem hopeless.
“Cicchetto was born from an idea, a good one, and became a solid concept when things were not that great around all of us,” says Murru. “Don't lose your passion in things that you love, don't listen to whoever tries to bring you and your ideas down. Give all you have if you feel like that's the right thing to do.”
“I am very lucky to share Cicchetto with my amazing business partner Giacomo, who helped me and the company to be where we are and, together, we were able to create something from nothing following these steps.”
Learn about their inspiring story in person and get a taste of Cicchetto’s liqueurs at the T.O. Food & Drink Festival happening April 22 to 24, or grab a whole bottle of your own at one of these establishments. They’ll be updating their website soon to include their new retailers, including Osteria Giulia, Giulietta, Il Covo, 416 Snack Bar, Sotto Sotto, Eataly, Nodo, and more. Follow them on Instagram to keep an eye on their upcoming releases and other future plans.
