AN ANCIENT HISTORY
The Cervone is a snake protagonist of many legends and an integral part of the popular culture of Salento; here it takes the name of Sacàra. A reptile of ancient origins that is said to drink mother's milk to achieve immortality evolving into a dragon. To feed himself he bites the breasts of pregnant women, or even licks the still wet lips of newborns who, annoyed, try to kick him away.
The secret of its longevity is metamorphosis. In fact, as it grows, a long horn appears on the muzzle and bright feathers adorn the top of its head. It is said that the snake learns to imitate noises and sounds similar to whispers of lovers to confuse its pray. It is born and lives in lands of warm tones, with a pungent breeze. It is intertwined with dry stone walls and green shrubs.
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An artisanal gin is inspired by the sacàra, it collects the aromas of the territory and is linked to ancient myths and legends. The flavors of prickly pear and wild sea fennel blend sinuously with juniper giving life to “Sacàra” Gin: fresh, straightforward, sweet but not too much, like the people here, like the laughter between friends, like the whispers of lovers.
THE MEETING WITH CARAVAGGIO
The Madonna dei Palafrenieri, also called Madonna della Serpe, is an oil painting made in 1606 by Caravaggio.
The painting shows the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus as they crush the snake of the original sin in the presence of Saint Anne. Caravaggio is thought to have taken inspiration from Cervone, or Sacàra, to draw the reptile.
THE POP TURN AND THE "MONOLITH" LABEL
Designed by PLAM Creative Studio the graphics are playful, recalls an ancestral past through classical iconography, stripping it of rhetoric, seeking new life, new meaning. The three figures who step on the Sacàra, the cervone, are jokingly punished by karma, transforming themselves into the botanicals that make up the Dry Gin. The prickly pear and the wild sea fennel become the new faces and protagonists of the scene.
The back label creates a nuance that is reflected in the Dry Gin creating a diffuse and enveloping effect. When the level of the distillate goes down, slowly emerges a colored monolith with colors inspired by the flavor and sensations of Sacàra.
