Former drinks professional Siggy Bacani launches 7000 Islands

Philippines-born Australian entrepreneur and former global drinks executive Siggy Bacani is launching a specialist liqueurs and spirits business 7000 islands, importing Filipino beverages to Australia and exporting 'small batch' Australian wines to the growing Philippines market.

Officially operational this month, 7000 Islands’ first shipment of hand-crafted Ube Cream liqueurs arrived in the company’s state-of-the-art automated warehouse in Sydney direct from regional provinces in the Philippines.

The liqueurs, as well as a range of Filipino spirits, will become available to selected bars, restaurants and specialist outlets across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

Bacani is also tapping into the fast-developing Philippines restaurant and drinks market by exporting selected white and red wines from Victoria’s Yarra Valley, as well as South Australia and New South Wales, with the ambition of becoming the No 1 specialist wine exporter.

Bacani said, “After several years of development, we are set to launch the 7000 Islands portfolio of hand-picked beverages into both markets. We are passionate about bringing the very best of these two worlds together with a selection of small-batch wines and craft spirits that reflect the unmistakable flavours and traditions of Australia and the Philippines.

“Our vision is to harvest and export superb local wines from around Australia that are in perfect harmony with the tropical gastronomy of the Philippines, while providing Australian drinkers with the chance to explore some of the unique taste profiles of popular Filipino liqueurs and spirits. 

“There are over 110 million people in the Philippines with many only just beginning to explore the range of wines now on offer from markets such as Australia. Likewise, we believe Australian drinkers are looking for something new, such as Ube and Lambanog (the grandfather of Tequila).”

In total, there will be around 20 products available initially under the 7000 Islands brand ranging from wines selected from across the 65 wine regions of Australia to hand-crafted liqueurs and spirits produced by master distillers from across the 82 provinces of the Philippines.

The 7000 Islands' imported craft spirits are made from natural ingredients and unique Filipino flavours. The range of drinks will be available in premium restaurants and bars including the 3-hatted restaurant “Oncore by Clare Symth” in Crown Sydney; “Ni Hao Bar & Dining” in Sydney’s Civic Hotel, modern Vietnamese restaurant and bar “Saigon Hustle” in Sydney’s Smithfield, multi-award winning “Serai” restaurant in Melbourne and Hygge Bar in Perth.

Hailing from an agricultural family heritage in the Philippines, Siegfrid Gueco Bacani - nicknamedSiggy - honed his skills working in the corporate world, having previously been a marketing manager for Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands in the United Kingdom and Moët Hennessy in Australia.

“Our vision is focused around ‘real craft by real people that has a positive social impact on local communities’. Key elements include the concept of ‘artisanal distilling’, ‘family-owned’, ‘farm to bottle’, ‘locally-foraged’ and ‘socially conscious’.

“7000 Islands is a new offering for Australians which we have researched deeply and developed over the past four years to match Australian tastes with a thirst for something new. Our unique understanding of both cultures allows us to tell the story of our wine and dine cultures in an authentic ‘Filipino-Australian’ way. Indeed, our brand name echoes the 7000-plus islands of the Philippines, as well as the fact Australia is an island continent surrounded by thousands of tiny islands as well.”

A new website has been developed to take orders direct from businesses and consumers under the banner “The Finest of Filipino Craft”. For more information or to order products visit https://7000islands.co/