Discover ZALUD — A New Kind of Aperitivo
Born between Japanese tradition and the Mediterranean way of life, ZALUD is rethinking what an aperitivo can be: lighter, cleaner, naturally fermented and made for people who want something refreshing without the heaviness of classic aperitifs, beer or cocktails.
Behind the project are Kai and Gi-yeon — a German-American husband-and-wife duo based in Mallorca — who originally started ZALUD while searching for a lower-alcohol drink that still felt sophisticated, delicious and easy on the body.
Like many people, they loved the ritual of aperitivo culture but not always the after-effects: the high acidity of wine, sulfites and additives, the bloating feeling from beer, or the artificial colouring and strong alcohol content often found in traditional spirits and aperitifs.
So in 2023, they decided to create their own.
After travelling through Japan, they fell in love with the purity and complexity of sake and went on to study professionally in both London and Tokyo, completing Sake Sommelier certifications including WSET Level 3 Award in Sake and Certified Sake Professional training.
Back in Mallorca, they began experimenting with blending Junmai sake with homegrown citrus fruits and Mediterranean botanicals from their finca — creating a fresh, umami-forward aperitivo inspired equally by Japan and the Mediterranean.
✨ That idea became ZALUD — a name inspired by the Spanish “Salud” (cheers / health).
Crafted in collaboration with Mediterranean brewery Kensho Sake, ZALUD uses organic Spanish rice polished to 70%, brewed slowly through traditional koji fermentation to develop its clean, elegant and naturally complex flavour.
The result is a modern aperitivo that feels crisp, vibrant and surprisingly refreshing.
Available in two signature flavours:
🍊 Saffron Orange
🍋 Ginger Lemon
After fermentation, the sake is gently infused with natural ingredients including saffron, orange, ginger and lemon — creating a low-alcohol aperitivo designed for long lunches, sunset drinks and slow evenings shared with friends.
And unlike many conventional aperitifs:
✨ No artificial colours
✨ No preservatives
✨ No added sugar
✨ No sulfites
✨ Naturally gluten-free & vegan
It’s also lower in acidity than wine, lighter in alcohol than spirits, and contains natural probiotics and antioxidants thanks to the fermentation process.
Designed for the curious who love discovering new flavours — and for the conscious who care about what they drink.
