Montreal Marketeers Episode 23 – Mario D’Amico on Italian Liqueurs, Heritage, and Entrepreneurship

On Episode 23 of the Montreal Marketeers Podcast, we talk all things Italian liqueurs with Mario D’Amico, the passionate founder of Spiritueux Iberville and collector extraordinaire whose devotion to the world of spirits began as a teenager fascinated by the craft of cocktails and the stories behind legendary brands.

Mario’s journey started with a deep appreciation for Italian traditions, fueled in large part by his grandfather’s immigration experience from Italy to Quebec in 1953. By 2017, Mario transformed his passion into business, launching Spiritueux Iberville with the mission of blending Italian liqueur heritage and distinctive local Quebec flavors. His efforts have already made waves in Quebec’s spirits scene, with products that pay homage to the iconic aperitivo and amaro culture while introducing new twists with local botanicals and ingredients.

Through forging partnerships with local distilleries, Mario successfully navigated early start-up challenges and emphasized brand awareness through education and storytelling. His journey is driven by a desire to honor his roots, encourage customers to explore new tastes, and build big, loyal support in Quebec before eyeing new markets.

Show Highlights and Topics

• Duration: 67 minutes

• Partnering with distilleries to reduce start-up costs

• Building industry knowledge before launching

• Following your passion into entrepreneurship

• Establishing discipline and a strong work ethic

• Fostering brand awareness through education events

• The balance between planning and executing

• Weaving cultural heritage into a business model

• Winning customer trust for new products

• Coping with the fear of letting down early supporters

• Achieving local success ahead of expansion