The crafting of Archipelago Gin (Arc-Gin), with 22 of 28 botanicals sourced in the country to uphold Philippine pride, takes genesis at a 1918 tradition of the Westfall family in gin distillery.

Matthew Westfall, co-founder of Full Circle Craft Distillers Company, opened their state-of-the-art facility in Calamba City, Laguna to the media for a distillery tour. The tour highlighted the company's fifth anniversary and the enduring legacy of the master distiller in the family - Peter Westfall.

The product label “Archipelago,” is Full Circle’s initiative to put Arc-Gin on a bigger map of handcrafted artisanal spirits. 

Full Circle now exports to 18 countries. 

The Westfall couple - Matthew and Laurie - traveled to various provinces in the Philippines to gather botanicals such as sampaguita (jasmine), ilang-ilang (cananga plant), Pangasinan mango, Sagada orange, Davao pomelo, Baguio pine, Philippine lime, among others. 

The journey of Matthew’s grandparent, Peter Westfall,  to the Philippines started when Peter escaped the tumult of the Russian Revolution. 

Peter arrived in Manila and his family in 1918 and soon found an opportunity to apply his expertise at a local brewery. 

He innovated the use of tropical fruits, herbs and spices to extract exotic flavors and aromas. 

It was Peter’s groundbreaking works which laid the foundation of Full Circle which has served fully its meaning.