This month, meet Alessandro Garneri, who crafts nature into spirits!
In 2023, Bacardi named Alessandro as its Master of Botanicals, a role that blends deep scientific knowledge, sensory precision, and a profound respect for nature. spiritsEUROPE caught up with him to explore what the job entails, how botanicals are sourced, and why sustainability is central to the process.
Alessandro, what exactly does a Master of Botanicals do?
My role is to oversee the sourcing, selection, and quality of all the natural botanicals used across the Bacardi portfolio, including Bombay Sapphire gin, Martini vermouth and St-Germain elderflower liqueur. It is a multidisciplinary job that involves working closely with suppliers, farmers, scientists, and our internal innovation and blending teams. I am responsible for ensuring that every botanical meets our standards, not just in quality, but also in sustainability and traceability.
That sounds like a unique blend of science and nature. How did you prepare for this role?
It has been a long and incredible journey! I’m an agronomist and have been part of the Bacardi family since April 2006. I began my career in Quality Assurance at the Martini & Rossi headquarters in Italy, and over the years, I’ve held roles in Global Quality, Health & Safety, and Sustainability before moving to the Bacardi Global Botanicals Centre in Geneva in 2017. Throughout this journey, I’ve built expertise in sensory analysis, flavour chemistry, product development, and sustainable sourcing.
Becoming Master of Botanicals didn’t happen overnight — it’s the result of nearly two decades of hands-on experience, global travel, and continuous learning from nature, botanical suppliers, farmers, and colleagues across the industry.
How many botanicals are used across Bacardi brands?
We work with more than 100 botanicals sourced from around the world to prepare the various products in the Bacardi portfolio. The panoply of botanicals used is very wide, from juniper berries, wormwood and orris roots sourced from Italy, or angelica roots from Germany, lemon and orange peels from Spain and Cassia barks from Vietnam. Each botanical plays a distinct role in each recipe, whether it is providing aroma, texture, bitterness, or complexity.
Sustainability is a key industry theme. How does Bacardi approach it in botanical sourcing?
As a family-owned company, Bacardi is committed to doing the right thing for people and the planet. We have a long-standing tradition of building long-term partnerships with our botanical suppliers. In recent years, many of these partners have taken important steps to obtain third-party sustainability certifications, and we prioritise working with suppliers who have these accreditations. Our shared ambition is to strengthen these relationships with producers and cooperatives, working together to promote better agronomic practices, ecosystem preservation, and support for local communities.
Do you have a favourite botanical?
That's a tough one! Every botanical has its own story — its origin, aromatic profile, and unique beauty. But if I had to pick, I would choose juniper berries, artemisia, and elderflower. These three botanicals have been used for millennia and are deeply rooted in the history and traditions of European civilisation. They also happen to be the signature botanicals of three iconic brands: Bombay Sapphire gin, Martini vermouth, and St-Germain liqueur, respectively.
What’s changing in the world of botanicals?
There is a growing consumer interest in provenance — people increasingly want to know where ingredients come from and how they are grown. This drives us to be even more transparent, responsible, and innovative in our approach.
We are constantly exploring new botanicals, varieties, and origins, with the ambition of uncovering unique flavour profiles, while always showing respect for local communities, ecosystems, and traditions.
Any advice for someone willing to work with botanicals in the spirits sector?
Be curious, passionate, and humble! It all starts from there. This work requires patience, so learn from science and people, but also trust your senses. Travel, talk to farmers, distillers, and flavourists. Nature is complex: understanding it takes time.
From field to flask, Alessandro Garneri’s work ensures that every botanical used in Bacardi products is not only of the highest quality but also part of a larger commitment to environmental and social responsibility. His passion reminds us that great spirits begin with great ingredients — and even greater care.
