The story of Arete Puro premium gin has already been told on our official website and featured in the media. Still, some of the details we reveal today may be new to you.

To begin with, this top-quality Croatian gin is part of a small Zagreb-based craft distillery, Aristippus Liquors, owned by the Lekaj family. Arete Puro is the result of the vision shared by brother and sister Martina and David, who set out to unite heritage and modernity, hedonism and sustainability in an elegant bottle of gin designed to delight even those for whom gin is not the first choice. Despite their strong belief in the idea, the rest of the family initially did not share their enthusiasm. Support was withheld out of fear that high-tech distillery represented a risky venture. Over time, however, their father changed his mind and offered his support – including financial backing.

“Our dad was against it from the very beginning. For him, the world of gin was completely unknown – a distant and uncertain path he was afraid to let his children take. He couldn’t see the logic in a business he didn’t understand, but in the end, it wasn’t arguments that convinced him, but our eyes. He realized it wasn’t just a whim, but our greatest passion. He gave in and placed his trust in us not because he believed in gin, but because he simply couldn’t support his children. He has been our strongest support and tailwind throughout our lives, so despite all his doubts, he decided once again to invest in what he values most – our dreams,” reveals Martina Lekaj.

When it comes to sustainability, Aristippus Liquors uses an energy- and cost-efficient, environmentally friendly distillation system. By relying exclusively on electricity instead of fossil fuels, the production of Arete Puro gin is both ethical and environmentally conscious, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, all ingredients are sourced from suppliers for whom sustainability is also a key business principle, and the entire concept is rounded off with eco-friendly packaging. Reduced energy consumption also results in considerable operational savings, without any compromise on quality.

Martina Lekaj

“When I close my eyes, I can still smell that first, uncertain distillation in our small space. Today, holding the Audience Gold Medal in our hands, the journey may seem like a logical sequence of events, but the truth was far more difficult. The biggest challenge wasn’t sales or the recipe – it was finding the strength to keep going when all the doors were closing. There were moments when we desperately needed a helping hand and were met instead with cold resistance, doubt, and a wall of silence. There is nothing harder than knocking on doors that don’t open and hearing that your dream ‘makes no sense’ from those you expected to understand you most. That feeling of loneliness, standing in front of closed doors with a product you believe in with your whole being, was crushing.

But it was precisely in that darkness, when we were left alone against everyone, that David and I became inseparable. Our defiance and faith in one another were the only reasons we didn’t stop. Every doubt and every rejection taught us that Arete Puro doesn’t stand only for the purity of the gin, but also for the purity of our intention to succeed – despite everything,” Martina continues.

Plans include expansion into European markets, as well as the development of several new spirits that will naturally build on the success of the multiple award-winning gin.

“My heart is drawn first to Austria and Germany, where people deeply value quiet dedication, discipline, and respect for nature. But my great personal wish is also Spain. I have deep private reasons and strong emotions tied to that country, and seeing Arete Puro under the Spanish sun would mean far more to me than just business – it would be a moment where my personal journey and our shared vision come together. I would love to know that people in Vienna, Berlin, or Madrid recognize in our gin the soul of the Mediterranean and the strength of our family tradition. That would be a circle finally closing – from my father’s workshop to the most beautiful corners of Europe.”

Although they continue to face numerous challenges, David and Martina Lekaj have succeeded in their main goal – offering their customers an experience, not just a drink. Developing the perfect recipe, we enjoyed today and took a great deal of time. Every ingredient was carefully selected, with particular attention drawn to timut pepper from Nepal. The fact that nothing was left to chance is further confirmed by all samples being sent for tasting outside Croatia. Learn more about the ingredients of Arete Puro here.

“People today crave authentic creativity, and our uniqueness captivates them from the very first scent. That ‘wow’ moment – when, instead of the expected heat, they discover an incredible freshness of grapefruit in timut pepper – is what sets us apart. They recognize that we didn’t follow templates but created something bold and entirely our own. Our sustainability and creative defiance turn ordinary consumption into a memorable experience. When praise arrives from beyond our borders, my heart is full because I know people have recognized that spark of ours.”

The elegant black-and-green Arete Puro bottle is a custom-made product crafted in neighboring Slovenia.

“We wanted the bottle to feel like a home for our gin – solid, transparent, and honest. We wanted everyone who holds it to feel the weight of our effort. We chose Slovenia because we found master glassmakers there who don’t see glass merely as a material, but as an art form. That collaboration was a meeting of two passions; they breathed life into our designs with such care, as if they were doing it for their own family,” Martina concludes.