ITALICUS
ITALICUS is a London-based premium Italian liqueur brand founded in 2016 by Giuseppe Gallo, producing Rosolio di Bergamotto made with I.G.P. certified Calabrian bergamot, and serving global on-premise bars, restaurants, and aperitivo enthusiasts through curated trade distribution and direct e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ITALICUS does
ITALICUS LTD. is a London-registered, privately held spirits company founded in 2016 by Giuseppe Gallo, operating the ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto brand. The company's core product is a premium Italian liqueur crafted near Turin from I.G.P. (Protected Geographical Indication) certified bergamot sourced from a UNESCO protected area in Calabria, Italy, with handpicked, vegan, natural ingredients. ITALICUS positions the product as a reimagining of Rosolio, described as the original 'drink of kings' predating Vermouth and Amaro, served in signatures such as Italicus Spritz, Italicus Margarita, Italicus Cup, Italicus Negroni Bianco, Italicus Sgroppino, and Italicus Cosmicus.
The business generates revenue through two principal channels: on-premise distribution to a curated network of premium bars and restaurants globally (including venues such as Sexy Fish London, Quinary Hong Kong, Bad Company 1920 Madrid, and Moebius Bar Milan), and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via the rosolioitalicus.com website shipping to the UK, Belgium, and USA. The company maintains no disclosed institutional funding and operates with 11-50 employees.
Its go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, anchored by the annual Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge (now in its 8th edition for 2026), which cultivates a global network of bartender ambassadors across 9+ countries. Brand-building activities include design collaborations with Pininfarina (ARCO ITALICUS limited edition, 2024) and Smallcaps Venezia, publication of the Art of ITALICUS book in 2022, the Sound of ITALICUS soundtrack with Ndusemes, and Cities Reimagined art projects with Moniker Art. Distribution to the USA is supported by Pernod Ricard USA terms-of-service references, suggesting a major spirits group distribution relationship for the North American market.
ITALICUS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ITALICUS
- Legal name
- ITALICUS LTD.
- Website
- https://rosolioitalicus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ITALICUS is a London-based premium Italian liqueur brand founded in 2016 by Giuseppe Gallo, producing Rosolio di Bergamotto made with I.G.P. certified Calabrian bergamot, and serving global on-premise bars, restaurants, and aperitivo enthusiasts through curated trade distribution and direct e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ITALICUS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Spirits & Liqueurs
- NAICS
- Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (312)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing / Co-packing (Brew, Distill, Bottle, Can) (CRADAIAI)
Keywords
Where ITALICUS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
ITALICUS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Beverage Product Sales: ITALICUS generates revenue through direct sales of its Rosolio di Bergamotto liqueur bottles to consumers via its e-commerce website and through distribution to bars, restaurants, and retail outlets globally.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
ITALICUS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ITALICUS produces and sells Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, a premium Italian liqueur made with I.G.P. certified Bergamot from Calabria. The brand distributes the bottled liqueur through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, selected bar and restaurant partners, and retail distributors, complemented by signature cocktail recipes and the annual Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge bartender competition.
Product overview
ITALICUS is a premium Italian liqueur brand specializing in Rosolio di Bergamotto - a reimagined version of the historic 'drink of kings.' The core product offering centers on Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto liqueur, complemented by a collection of signature cocktail recipes including Italicus Spritz, Italicus Margarita, Italicus Cup, and Italicus Cosmicus. The brand maintains engagement through the annual Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge (now in its 8th edition), publishes the Art of ITALICUS book, and periodically releases limited edition collaborations such as the ARCO ITALICUS with Pininfarina. The portfolio positions Italian craftsmanship and artistry at its core.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto The flagship Italian liqueur — a reimagined Rosolio (drink of kings) made with I.G.P. bergamot from Calabria. Lightly citrusy with hints of rose and lavender, balanced with light bitter and floral spice notes. Sold to consumers, bars, and restaurants globally.
- Italicus Spritz Signature serve: 1 part Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto with 2 parts Prosecco, built in a wine glass over ice and garnished with three green olives. A branded cocktail recipe that drives consumption of the core liqueur.
- Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge Annual global bartending competition that celebrates Italian art and design by challenging bartenders to create cocktail art inspired by art in all its forms. Now in its 8th edition (2026). A brand program driving on-premise advocacy and content.
- Art of ITALICUS Book Book celebrating the first five years of the brand documenting the history of aperitivo, featuring over 50 bartender recipes and a collection of exclusive artworks. Curated by @therealstrangerandstranger. Sold as brand merchandise.
- ARCO ITALICUS Limited Edition Limited edition bottle glorifier created in collaboration with Pininfarina, celebrating the 7th anniversary. Inspired by Italian architecture, featuring an arch design representing connection between past and present, crafted from recycled materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Global recognition as 'Top Trending Aperitivo Brand' since launch
Companies that use ITALICUS
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ITALICUS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
ITALICUS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Bad Company 1920 (Madrid)coreBad Company 1920 in Madrid, Spain, won the Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge 2025. Bartender Vincenzo Amorese was named Global Bar Artist 2025, representing Spain in the global competition.
- Sexy Fish LondoncoreSexy Fish London is home to Jelena Bulatovskaja, third place winner in the Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge 2025, representing the UK market.
- PininfarinaflagshipIn 2023, ITALICUS partnered with Pininfarina, bringing together two expressions of Italian excellence. Pininfarina was inspired by the design and shape of the ITALICUS bottle, creating 'ARCO ITALICUS' - a glorifier that accentuates the bottle's elegance whilst celebrating world-famous Italian art and style. The arch symbolizes connection between past and present, made from recycled materials with brass-colored elements. Launched as limited edition in early 2024.
- Smallcaps Venezia StudiominorSmallcaps Venezia studio design created a reinterpretation of the Arco ITALICUS and its inspiration, adding a colour 'pop' version of their artistic flair to celebrate 10 years of ITALICUS.
- Moniker ArtcoreMoniker Art collaborated with ITALICUS for the Cities Reimagined project in 2021, inviting creatives worldwide to reimagine iconic cities through the lens of art and mixology. Inspired by local culture, architecture and the ritual of aperitivo, familiar landscapes became extraordinary canvases for creativity.
- Global Creative Talent Contest ParticipantsminorIn 2020, ITALICUS celebrated the imagination and passion of talents from around the world through the Creative Talent Contest: a global celebration where art, aperitivo and storytelling came together, bringing people closer digitally during the pandemic.
- Quinary Bar (Hong Kong)coreQuinary Bar in Hong Kong, ranked among top bars, is a venue for ITALICUS cocktails. Bartender Tuen Mun Yo Galin won Hong Kong ITALICUS Bar Artist 2025 with the cocktail 'Silk Road'.
- Ndusemes (Sound of ITALICUS)coreSound of ITALICUS soundtrack created in 2019 with Ndusemes celebrating the energy, creativity and emotions that bring people together during aperitivo experiences. The soundtrack accompanies cocktails at events and experiences.
- TheRealStrangerAndStrangercoreThe Art of ITALICUS book curated by TheRealStrangerAndStranger brings together five years of creativity, celebrating the artists, ideas and collaborations that have helped define the brand's journey. A collection of inspiration, beautifully bound, created to be explored, shared and revisited.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ITALICUS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Campari: Campari is the parent of Aperol and a major Italian bitter aperitivo brand. It competes with ITALICUS in the same on-premise cocktail occasions and Italian aperitivo heritage narrative, though it operates at much larger scale with a broad spirits portfolio.
- Aperol: Aperol is the dominant Italian aperitivo owned by Campari Group, serving the same pre-dinner aperitivo occasion as ITALICUS. As a mass-market brand with significantly larger distribution and marketing budgets, it is the most visible competitor in the aperitivo space that ITALICUS is trying to differentiate from at the premium tier.
- Martini & Rossi: Martini & Rossi is the world's leading vermouth and Italian aperitivo brand, owned by Bacardi. As a broad incumbent in the Italian aperitivo space, it competes with ITALICUS for the same aperitivo occasion and on-premise visibility, though at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Tempus Fugit Spirits: Tempus Fugit Spirits is a craft producer of premium European liqueurs, cordials, and absinthe based in Switzerland. It is a direct peer to ITALICUS as a premium, design-led liqueur brand that focuses on authentic heritage recipes and on-premise cocktail positioning.
- Lillet: Lillet is a French aperitif owned by Pernod Ricard, positioned as a premium aperitif with sophisticated cocktail applications. It directly competes with ITALICUS in the premium aperitif space, with similar on-premise focus and brand heritage storytelling.
- Cynar: Cynar is an Italian artichoke-based bitter aperitif owned by Campari Group, positioned as a digestif and cocktail ingredient. It competes with ITALICUS in the broader Italian bitter aperitif category and is a frequent substitute in craft cocktail applications.
- Giulio Cocchi: Giulio Cocchi is a heritage Italian aperitif producer known for vermouth and Americano. Like ITALICUS, it is an Italian aperitivo brand with strong on-premise presence, classic bottle design, and a focus on Italian aperitivo heritage, serving as a direct premium peer.
- Luxardo: Luxardo is an Italian liqueur producer founded in 1821, famous for Maraschino and a range of premium Italian liqueurs. Like ITALICUS, Luxardo operates as a heritage Italian liqueur brand with strong on-premise presence and premium positioning, serving similar bartender and cocktail enthusiast communities.
- St-Germain: St-Germain is a premium French elderflower liqueur owned by Bacardi that achieved cult status in the cocktail community through its distinctive bottle design and on-premise bartending strategy. It is highly comparable to ITALICUS in its premium niche liqueur positioning, design-led brand, and cocktail occasion focus.
- Dolin: Dolin is a French vermouth and aperitif producer with a heritage dating to 1821, specializing in premium artisanal vermouths from the Chambéry region. It competes with ITALICUS in the premium aperitif and cocktail modifier category, with similar bartender community engagement and on-premise focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ITALICUS social profiles
Digital presenceITALICUS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ITALICUS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ITALICUS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ITALICUS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ITALICUS
What does ITALICUS do?
ITALICUS produces and sells Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, a premium Italian liqueur made with I.G.P. certified Bergamot from Calabria. The brand distributes the bottled liqueur through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, selected bar and restaurant partners, and retail distributors, complemented by signature cocktail recipes and the annual Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge bartender competition.
Is ITALICUS a public or private company?
ITALICUS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ITALICUS founded?
ITALICUS was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ITALICUS based?
ITALICUS is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ITALICUS make money?
One revenue line is on record: beverage Product Sales.
Who are ITALICUS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Campari, Aperol and Martini & Rossi. Direct peers are Tempus Fugit Spirits, Lillet, Cynar, Giulio Cocchi, Luxardo, St-Germain and Dolin.
Does ITALICUS have an API?
No public API is recorded for ITALICUS.
What industry is ITALICUS in?
ITALICUS's product category is Premium Spirits & Liqueurs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAI, Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing / Co-packing (Brew, Distill, Bottle, Can). Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.