After eight years with superb results in Cuba, where he has opened 15 boutiques and stores, the Giorgio G brand is taking steps to get its big break in the realm of spirits, expanding all over Latin America through Panama and enhancing its horizons far beyond the world of fashion and feminine accessories.

Speaking of his company’s projections, Giorgio Gucci says “it’s vitally important to look for new countries and we see in Panama a strategic option whose geographical location provides access to all Central American and South American nations from a neutral and cosmopolitan place. We’ve already had there a showroom selling items at wholesale prices, located on the 22nd floor of the Global Bank building, on 50th street in Panama City.” What prompted Giorgio’s decision to try his hand at the spirit market? “It’s all about the creation of premium liquors, like vodka and cognac, named after Giorgio G, another of my major projects currently underway in Panama. They’ll be distilled in France by Destilerie Vinet EGE, a firm with over 250 years of experience under its belt and an excellent reputation worldwide. Our objective is to liken our trademark of elegance and exclusiveness with the supply of those products. “My goal is to come up with top-quality liquors thought up from two thoughts: my humble vision as a fashion designer and the vision of a fantastic spirit producer, like Joseph Shor, a celebrated Latvian-born jewelry designer and maker of world-class premium liquors based in Panama, a country where he has had a successful career.” The bottles, featuring striking and fancy designs by Giorgio Gucci and Joseph Shor, are all handmade and include such materials as glass, white gold and yellow gold, thus giving the liquor a touch of elegance, exclusiveness and luxury. For the 12th Habano Festival, dedicated to women, you have signed up for the traditional auction with an exclusive portfolio. What can you say about this? “I feel great admiration for this Cuban wonder and its hand rollers because each and every habano, every vitola, is kind of the culmination of one of the most beautiful artworks. Who doesn’t remember great moments in the history of filmmaking with one of the stars puffing on a habano? Or images of our history with politicians and famous people holding habanos in their hands? Habano stands for exclusiveness, glamour, romanticism; and all these aspects combined have eventually made our pathways to cross.”