During a recent launch at Destileria Limtuaco Museum in Intramuros, Manila, Karabella unveiled five new and bold flavors made from 100 percent fresh carabao milk showcasing prominent spirits and liqueurs from Destileria Limtuaco’s Philippine Craft Spirits line.
Led by Olivia Limpe-Aw, president and CEO of Destileria Limtuaco, the event also featured industry key speakers Sec. Alfredo Pascual of the Department of Trade and Industry, Deputy Governor Berna Romulo-Puyat of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Executive Vice President Brandon Limpe-Aw and Vice President Aaron Limpe-Aw of Destileria Limtuaco, and founders Alfred Ng, Jan Buenaflor, and Chef EJ Buenaflor of Karabella.
On Destileria Limtuaco’s decision to collaborate with Karabella, Brandon said it was an easy decision to make. “Learning how they started as a social enterprise with Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm, while now also being supplied by the General Trias Dairy Raisers Multi Purpose Cooperative and the Philippine Carabao Center. This was very on brand with our Philippine Craft Spirits where we try as much as possible to limit out suppliers and work with farmers through cooperatives,” he said.
Guests were treated to the five gelato flavors namely: Chocoholic, made with Very Old Captain Rum; Paradise Mango Rum Liqueur, with mango and cashew; Amadeo Coffee Liqueur, sprinkled with coffee and cacao nibs; Manila Liqueur de Calamansi, with calamansi and basil; and Intramuros Liqueur de Cacao, topped with tablea-chocolate chips.
“This has been a special and historical launch with our new flavors in partnership with the oldest distillery in the Philippines that has created quality products and is loved by Filipinos and foreigners. I’d like to thank Destileria Limtuaco for this event and for entrusting us with this project,” Jan mentioned during the launch. “Karabella started with Gawad Kalinga as a social enterprise, and we make fresh dairy products inside the farm. Of course, we also partner with MSMEs, social entrepreneurs, and local farmers, and together we make honest to goodness dairy products.”
With carabao’s milk, the gelato now boasts 58 percent more calcium, 40 percent more protein, and 43 percent less cholesterol as compared to cow’s milk, which is commonly used for desserts. “We do not like to compromise quality with our Philippine Craft Spirits line and we always use the real thing in producing the products featured in the gelato you’re trying today,” continued Brandon.
Karabella gelato featuring Destileria Limtuaco’s Philippine Craft Spirits will be available this month in the museum and liquorexpress.ph. It will hit major supermarkets later this year.