Fabrizio Balbi

With beginnings in Sicily, and a decade working internationally in the luxury hotel world,  Fabrizio Balbi’s exciting career journey led him to Pernod Ricard in 2023, where he is now immersed in all things Black Forest Distillers.  

We caught up with the Monkey 47 Global Brand Ambassador to learn more about his role, discover a unique collaboration in Lisbon, and of course, get the recipe for his unique twist on a Monkey 47 negroni! 

Can you briefly tell us about yourself and your role at the company?

Hospitality has always been part of my life – I started working in the industry at the age of 14, then moved to Switzerland to complete my studies there. I subsequently worked for some of the best luxury hotel companies in the world for ten years, managing bar programs, living and working in countries like the US to the UK, UAE and more. 

I joined Pernod Ricard in 2023 as Prestige Brand Ambassador for the Italian market, looking after a full portfolio, before going on to join Black Forest Distillers as Monkey 47 Global Brand Ambassador. 

Can you tell us about an exciting project you have worked on recently?

We had an amazing experience a couple of months ago in Lisbon, Portugal. Constança Cordeiro, the owner of the bar Toca Da Raposa, reached out to me through the local Brand Ambassador there and suggested a three-day collaboration on an initiative called “Wild Sips”. 

The concept is that a bartender from another country joins Constança, and together they spend two days in the Portuguese countryside foraging botanicals to create unique new recipes which use Monkey 47. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase our new brand world, and also connect with world-class bars.

How does the idea of conviviality manifest itself in the work environment at TAG?

At Black Forest Distillers I felt welcomed and trusted since the very beginning. What I really love about conviviality is feeling at home wherever you go in the world, whichever TAG office you visit, where there is a mixture of many different cultures every day. It’s beautiful! 

Finally, what’s your favourite cocktail and do you have a personal twist on it? 

The Monkey 47 Negroni is definitely top of my list. It’s a pretty straightforward drink, and I have so many great memories around it. I love experimenting with different ingredients and techniques. My twist is calle “47 Wonders”: Monkey 47 Sloe, red vermouth and red bitter macerated together with toasted sesame seeds then clarified with white chocolate! 

The clarification, combined with the sloe gin, creates a lighter version of the classic negroni with buttery sweet notes and sesame.