Arete Puro celebrates its anniversary: We look back at the most important moments of the past two years
Some of the greatest stories begin with a small desire to create something different and special. Step by step, with a lot of faith and persistence, that idea takes shape. Today, we celebrate the 2nd anniversary of one such dream that found its way to becoming reality – Arete Puro gin!
Although gin is now one of the most popular drinks, the multi-award-winning Arete Puro is much more than that – it’s an experience in a bottle, created with immense love and care, which is why more people recognize it as the perfect choice. Its story is unlike any other, and once you try its aromatic notes, it easily becomes part of your rituals and pleasures. Behind every sip stands the Lekar family and their small but high-tech Zagreb-based distillery Aristippus Liquors – more precisely, brother and sister Martina and David – who have spent the past two years offering their loyal customers not just a drink, but an experience.
April 2024 – The launch party that officially started it all
Although the beginnings were difficult and doors were often closed due to distrust of something new and completely different, the Arete Puro brand took its first steps toward winning over audiences at events like these – to introduce itself and send a message: “We may not be the biggest, but we are here – and we’re not going anywhere.”
Before that, Arete Puro gin was officially presented on April 21, 2024, at the well-known Zagreb cocktail bar Peaches & Cream, where space was in high demand. Cocktails featuring a gin that blends the flavors and aromas of Croatian forests and the Adriatic coast impressed everyone – both in the classic gin & tonic combination and in creative cocktails.
October 2024 – First festival appearance
Arete Puro was presented to a wider audience for the first time at the 3rd edition of the popular international GinIstra festival in Rovinj. This event brings together gin lovers, producers, and experts each year in the Old Tobacco Factory, turning Istria into a hub of the global gin scene. That year, more than 50 exhibitors from Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, and Slovakia participated, and the festival attracted over two thousand visitors.
To present themselves in the best light and highlight the Mediterranean flavors of their product, the Arete Puro gin team prepared a signature gin & tonic for visitors. Here’s a simple recipe:
- 30 ml Arete Puro gin
- 100 ml Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water
- Lemon peel for garnish
November 2024 – Winning the first major award
Arete Puro gin had plenty to celebrate at the second ZGrappa festival, held at the end of 2024 at Peti kupe, which gathers regional distillers of rakija, liqueurs, and gin – it won the Audience Award for Best Gin!
“We are thrilled that Arete Puro gin won the audience award for best gin at this year’s ZGrappa festival! It is especially impressive that this was their first appearance at our festival, yet they managed to win the hearts of visitors. This victory shows that an authentic approach, high quality, and passion for craft will always find their way to the audience. Congratulations to the entire Arete Puro team on this outstanding success, and we look forward to their future achievements and ZGrappa 2025,” said Marin Levaj, the festival’s organizer.
The connection between the ZGrappa festival and the Arete Puro brand continued in 2025, this time at the Stil Event venue at the Zagreb Fair. The festival recorded a record number of visitors, with 80 exhibitors – from Croatia and Serbia to Italy, France, and even Japan – fifty more than the previous year.
“At the ZGrappa fair, we opened our hearts for the second time and proudly presented Arete Puro Gin – the result of our immense dedication, living passion, and sincere belief in strength and simplicity. Our goal was not just to create a gin, but to pour our soul into every drop and offer a truly premium experience. Visitors’ reactions were more than confirmation – they were a warm embrace, proof that in this fast-paced world people crave something tangible. They seek products that carry the imprint of a genuine human story, vision, and the heart of their creator,” said Martina Lekar, director of Aristippus Liquors.
Collaboration with mixologist Ozana Domić
Where there is Arete Puro gin, there is also brand ambassador Ozana Domić – and vice versa. Ozana is behind all signature cocktails with Arete Puro gin, and many simple yet intriguing recipes can be found online. At all events throughout 2024, 2025, and the first three months of 2026, this duo proved to be an excellent match, with visitors’ feedback consistently full of enthusiasm.
Her cocktails can’t be found anywhere else because she creates them in her own kitchen until she achieves that perfect note for every taste.
“Clients’ wishes always come first, but my goal is also to offer new flavors that surprise. For me, there are no limits or rules – I constantly experiment so I don’t lose the child within me. I love cooking, and that’s where my knowledge of cocktails comes from. I learned how to make all syrups and infusions from my grandmother Ksenija, who remains my inspiration, even though she is sadly no longer with us to try everything she inspired. In addition to creating all cocktails myself, I also design the cocktail menus and their names,” Ozana revealed.
Events, events, and more events
Throughout 2025, Arete Puro gin could be tasted in Ozana’s unique cocktails at numerous city events, as well as festivals like the gastro-music event The Flying Dish in Velika Gorica, which lasted 11 days. On that occasion, Ozana designed cocktails decorated with candies and cotton candy, attracting many visitors.
Two wonderful collaborations were realized with the lifestyle portal Jolie.hr – at their glamorous 10th anniversary celebration on the rooftop terrace of the Met Hotel, and at a dinner dedicated to women entrepreneurs at Oris – House of Architecture. There were also several successful collaborations at the highly attended business party IBMC – International Business Meet-Up Club, held monthly at different locations across Zagreb.
In June 2025, the team also took part in the first anniversary celebration of INSITE Croatia, a multimedia platform promoting the Croatian creative scene and electronic music. INSITE Croatia and Arete Puro were connected by a shared vision – to tell an authentic and creative local story on a global level, engaging all the senses.
There is also a successful collaboration with Piknik Events, always a joy, and the most recent presentation took place last weekend at Old Fashioned bar. As always, they look forward to everything that lies ahead.
Media coverage
Over time, the story of Arete Puro gin attracted media attention, providing valuable support along the way:
Journal.hr: https://www.journal.hr/lifestyle/arete-puro-humanitarna-vecer-za-hrvatski-savez-za-rijetke-bolesti/
A charitable note
In March 2025, more than 100 guests gathered at the Kontessa club in Zagreb to support the Croatian Alliance for Rare Diseases. It was an evening of elegance, but also a demonstration of humanitarian spirit.
“Rare diseases often don’t receive enough attention or financial support. At Arete Puro, we believe it is our responsibility to take action and make a difference. We hope this initiative will inspire others to take similar steps,” said Martina Lekar, founder of Aristippus Liquors.
In doing so, Arete Puro proved it is not just a premium gin – but a brand with a big heart.
Stay with us for what’s next!
