Malfy is one of Italy's most successful gin exports, produced at the Torino Distillati distillery in Moncalieri, Piedmont, using Italian citrus fruits that give each expression a distinctly Mediterranean identity. The Rosa — their pink grapefruit and rhubarb expression — is the most popular of the range, and it's easy to see why. It captures the bittersweet, sun-kissed character of Italian aperitivo culture in a way that feels genuine rather than contrived.
The Approach
Malfy Rosa uses Sicilian pink grapefruit as its headline botanical, supported by Italian rhubarb and a base of traditional gin botanicals including juniper, coriander, and angelica. The grapefruit peel is macerated in the grain spirit before distillation, allowing the citrus oils to infuse deeply into the base. The resulting distillate is then blended with a separate rhubarb infusion, creating the gin's distinctive pink colour and bittersweet flavour profile.
On the Nose
Vivid and appealing. Pink grapefruit dominates — sweet, tart, and immediately recognisable — with a rhubarb tartness underneath that adds complexity. Juniper is present but plays a supporting role, providing a piney structure that prevents the citrus from overwhelming. There's a subtle floral quality that might come from the Italian botanical terroir, and a hint of the warmth you'd expect from coriander and angelica.
On the Palate
Malfy Rosa delivers on the nose's promise with considerable charm. The pink grapefruit is front and centre — bright, bittersweet, and mouth-filling — while the rhubarb adds a tart, slightly vegetal counterpoint that prevents the grapefruit from becoming one-dimensional. The bitterness is well-calibrated: present enough to give the gin an aperitivo character, restrained enough to remain broadly appealing.
Juniper and coriander provide a subtle structural backbone, ensuring the gin reads as gin rather than grapefruit liqueur. The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied with a clean, refreshing quality. At 41% ABV, it's light enough for casual sipping but has enough weight for mixing.
The Finish
Medium length, with a lingering bittersweet grapefruit note that's genuinely appetite-whetting. The rhubarb tartness surfaces in the finish, adding a dry, tart conclusion that echoes the aperitivo tradition. There's a pleasant bitterness — not Campari-level, but noticeable — that makes you want another sip.
Serving
Malfy Rosa with Mediterranean tonic and a slice of pink grapefruit over ice is a textbook summer drink — refreshing, bitter-sweet, and visually stunning. It's also excellent in a Paloma variation (replacing tequila with Malfy Rosa, grapefruit juice, lime, soda) and in a Rosa Spritz (Malfy Rosa, prosecco, soda water, grapefruit slice).
The Verdict
Malfy Rosa is a flavoured gin that understands what flavoured gin should be: characterful, balanced, and versatile, with enough gin backbone to justify its classification. The bittersweet grapefruit-rhubarb combination is inspired — a natural pairing that avoids the cloying sweetness of lesser flavoured gins.
It's not a gin for purists, and it doesn't pretend to be. But on its own terms — as a flavoured gin that captures the spirit of Italian aperitivo — it's exceptionally well made. A bottle of sunshine.
