For Maltese alcohol producers, building a brand is not just about taste and quality. It often begins with overcoming structural and regulatory limitations that shape how and where products can be made.
Lascaris Vodka tells WhosWho.mt that one of the most significant constraints is legislative. Despite positioning itself as Malta’s first vodka brand, the product is not distilled locally. Current regulations do not permit the distillation of spirits at the high alcohol by volume (ABV) required for vodka production, effectively preventing such operations from taking place on the island.
As a result, Lascaris Vodka is produced at a partner distillery in Bulgaria, where it can meet the technical standards required for premium vodka. The process includes five rounds of distillation to achieve purity, followed by charcoal filtration to enhance smoothness and clarity. Even the water, a key component, is sourced locally in Bulgaria, drawn from the Rhodope Mountains and selected for its mineral balance and purity.
While production takes place abroad, the brand’s identity is firmly rooted in Malta. Inspired by Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris, the company says it set out to create a premium product that could compete internationally while representing Malta in the global spirits market.
The challenges are different, but no less significant, for craft beer producers operating locally.
At Lord Chambray, Founder Samuele D’Imperio had to build an industry almost from scratch. When the brewery was established in Gozo in 2014, the craft beer market in Malta was virtually non-existent, requiring not just production capabilities but also consumer education to generate demand.
Mr D’Imperio tells WhosWho.mt that operating from a small island added further complexity. From importing specialised ingredients such as hops to exporting finished products, logistics required careful coordination. Establishing the technical infrastructure for brewing also demanded significant upfront investment, with international expertise brought in to ensure quality standards from the outset.
Over time, these efforts have translated into growth. Lord Chambray has expanded its reach across Europe and Asia, collaborated with international breweries, and reported strong revenue increases, supported in part by product innovation such as canned beers and the use of both imported and hyperlocal ingredients.
While branding and ambition may be local, production and scaling often depend on external ecosystems or overcoming structural limitations at home.
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