Hoxton Spirits was founded in 2011, but Calabrese’s experience in and passion for the drinks industry stretches back long before that point.
His father was a well-known bartender around London – who once turned down the opportunity to appear in a James Bond film – and at the age of just 14 Calabrese followed him into the hospitality sector securing a first job as a pot wash at a hotel.
“I just loved it,” he told the Food Manufacture Podcast.
“I loved going to work an earning a wage and being respected.”
From there Calabrese worked his way up at the hotel, but eventually become bored and started looking for something new. He briefly spent time as a nightclub promoter, but after a “hectic” three years he moved onto a cocktail bar.
From there he moved into a management role and ended up running a number of well-known London bars and clubs including Wringle & Mangle and Calabrese House.
It was during his time at the Hoxton Pony though when Calabrese first dipped his toe into the world of drinks manufacturing.
“In around 2008 I was selling so much vodka, but I was really interested in gin,” he recalled.
Looking at the current gins on the market, Calabrese thought there was an opportunity to offer something different that might appeal to a new generation of customers.
“It really started out as a labour of love,” he added.
“My brief was about getting away from what people understood gin to be in order to make it relevant.”
While it may have started out as a side project, Calabrese slowly began dedicating more of his time to the Hoxton Spirits brand and it has paid off.
During a fascinating interview, Calabrese explains why the brand is so rooted in its East London origins, touches on the current state of the premium drinks space and even reveals his favourite cocktail.
He also offers advice for young people seeking to break into the drinks space and reflects on some of the challenges facing the industry today.
“The difference between success and failure is perseverance,” he said.
“You’ve got to enjoy the process, even if you end up failing.”