Meet Robert Pallone | Co-Founder, Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Pallone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am the co-founder of Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs, we created the first-ever shelf-stable, fresh fruit liqueur inspired by the old-world style of European liqueurs.

While on a trip to the Dominican Republic with my longtime friend and business partner, I discovered the magic of passion fruit or chinola (chee-noh-lah), as it is referred to there.

Our ultimate goal was making an all-natural liqueur free of artificial additives that would possess the taste profile and the aromatic fragrance of raw passion fruit juice.

I started working in the hospitality industry at a young age. All my experience, from busser to bartender, to brand ambassador and sales consultant in the spirits industry, has been monumental in helping me understand the different needs of the business. From dealing with concerns of a Chinola sales representative, to answering beverage director’s product questions and discussing cocktail applications with bartenders. A lot of my past experience has helped with Chinola’s current success, it was a natural transition.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Because we wanted everything to be perfect, from the old-world growing process, to production, flavor and packaging, it took us eight years to take Chinola to market. I’ve never worked so hard, but I’ve also never been so fulfilled.

What sets Chinola apart is its quality. It is an artisanal, low-ABV liqueur made with fresh passion fruit. Each bottle contains about six large passion fruit! The fresh fruit gives Chinola its bright orange color and nectar-like texture. It’s not like other passion fruit liqueurs that use synthetic colors or artificial flavors.

There were many times when I wanted to quit, but as a business owner, you feel an immense obligation to persevere and succeed no matter what.

Since our launch, Chinola has expanded to 33 states and 12 countries. We are currently available in the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, even Australia and New Zealand. We recently launched in the U.K. and will be actively expanding into new global markets.

Besides our business success, we are very proud of the way we choose to make Chinola. We produce it in the Dominican Republic. Because of that, we’ve had the ability to support the infrastructural growth of the community, from building a road that makes this area more accessible, to creating small bridges, electric poles, and water wells that help boost the local economy.

We’ve also helped educate local farmers on agricultural best practices and have made strategic investments to innovate the way passion fruit is grown and harvested in the Dominican Republic.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Brickell, one of Miami’s most urban and walkable areas. From shopping, to wonderful parks and restaurants, there’s always something to do.

Some nearby favorite eateries include Baby Jane for drinks and dinner and Better Days, a great bar to unwind. I highly recommend cocktails at New York’s latest import, the elegant Pastis. Be sure to order a Mangue A Trois, their version of a Pornstar Martini made with Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur.

For really creative concoctions, there’s the Broken Shaker on Miami Beach, which put Miami’s mixology scene on the map.

To get away from it all, nothing beats a boat ride through Miami’s waterways for the Magic City’s best views!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Chinola wouldn’t be where it is today without my business partners, Michael Krychowecky and Andrew Merinoff, as well as dear friends, respected industry leaders Gabe Orta and Gui Jaroshy and our management team.

We’ve also had the endless support of the industry from the beginning. We first introduced the brand to restaurants and bars, where everyone, from mixologists to bar owners, saw Chinola’s potential and were extremely welcoming.

Website: https://chinola.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chinola/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=chinola

Image Credits
Chinola Fresh Fruit Liqueurs