Project: MeMento – Revolutionary Hydrosol-Based Beverage System Role: Product Designer Year: 2017-2019 Impact: Creation of an entirely new category in the Italian mixology market
The Innovation Challenge
When asked to develop Italy’s first non-alcoholic distillate, the challenge extended far beyond traditional beverage formulation. The vision required translating centuries of distillation wisdom—rooted in Florentine pharmaceutical traditions from 1498—into a contemporary mixology breakthrough that could compete with premium spirits in both complexity and sophistication.
Technical Innovation: Hydrosol Architecture
Primary Reference (2017): Four-Element Aromatic System
The foundational formula required creating perfect aromatic balance through four distinct hydrosol profiles:
- Rosemary distillate: Provides herbaceous structure and aromatic intensity
- Rose hydrosol: Contributes floral elegance and sensory softness
- Lemon verbena essence: Delivers citrus brightness and freshness
- Helichrysum distillate: Acts as ethereal binding agent, creating seamless integration
The objective lay not in selecting individual components, but in achieving precise proportional harmony that could deliver an “extraordinary range of perfectly blended flavors.”
Secondary Innovation: “Green” Reference (2019)
Building on the original formulation’s success, the challenge evolved toward creating a complementary profile focused on verdant botanical complexity:
- Green myrtle: Mediterranean coastal character
- Lemon balm: Balance of citrus and herbaceous notes
- Bay laurel: Adds aromatic depth and territorial identity
- Bitter orange: Contributes sophisticated bitter-sweet complexity
Market Impact and Professional Recognition
This hydrosol-based innovation successfully achieved:
- New category creation: First non-alcoholic distillate in the Italian market
- Industry trend influence: Pioneered the premium low/no-alcohol mixology movement
- Established technical precedent: Demonstrated feasibility of hydrosols for sophisticated cocktail applications
- Delivered versatile applications: From twist-on-classics to signature cocktail development
Professional Significance
This project represents a pivotal moment in beverage innovation—the successful translation of pharmaceutical-grade distillation expertise into commercial mixology applications. The formulations proved that hydrosol-based products could achieve the complexity, mouthfeel, and aromatic sophistication required to compete in premium beverage markets.
MeMento’s success validated the commercial viability of botanical distillation techniques in contemporary hospitality, opening pathways for expanded applications across wellness beverages, luxury hospitality, and innovative mixology programs.
Technical Legacy
Beyond immediate commercial success, this project established foundational principles for hydrosol-based beverage development:
- Precise aromatic balancing methodologies
- Mediterranean botanical sourcing strategies
- Seasonal reference development approaches
- Professional mixology integration techniques