From Our Island to Yours

May 22, 2026

Award-winning Archipelago Gin brings a taste of the tropics to Nantucket’s shores.

Peter Westfall escaped the Russian Revolution and arrived in Manila in 1918. Leading the team at San Miguel’s Royal Soft Drinks Plant, he was credited with introducing Royal Tru-Orange in 1922—a citrus staple that remains a Philippine household name today. Exactly 100 years after his grandfather’s milestone, Matthew Westfall distilled a new chapter. Following a global career in diplomacy and international development banking, he returned to his family’s roots to found Full Circle Craft Distillers Co., the first authentic craft distillery in the Philippines.

Now eight years in, Full Circle has garnered global acclaim, exporting to 18 countries while honoring the artisanal excellence Westfall’s grandfather embraced a century ago. For Matthew and his wife Laurie Jimenez-Westfall, the venture has come full circle in more ways than one. A Brookline native, Matthew’s bond with Nantucket spans decades. This May, the Westfalls are bringing their world-class collection to the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival. Their award-winning ARC Gin can be found at island mainstays like Hatch’s, Murray’s, The Islander, Epernay and The Sconset Bookstore, and on the backbars of the Sea Grille, Summer House, The Nantucket Hotel and The Nantucket Yacht Club.

What inspired you to launch a distillery?

Matthew Westfall: Full Circle is woven from three threads: my grandfather’s pioneering spirit, the storied history of the Philippines, and the vibrant tapestry of tropical botanicals found across the archipelago. As a third-generation resident fascinated by this lineage, I gravitated toward building upon this heritage while celebrating the very best of our adopted island home.

What guided your creation of the Archipelagospirits brand?

Westfall: It began with a singular vision: to build a premium global spirits brand without compromise, anchored by time-tested traditions. We invested in state-of-the-art German copper stills and spent two years perfecting our recipes using fresh botanicals sourced from family farms across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, ranging from local citrus (pomelo, dalandan and calamansi), to mango and exotic fragrant flowers (sampaguita and ylang-ylang)

What sets your spirits apart?

Westfall: Authenticity and precision. We distill in small batches on hybrid copper stills to exacting standards. The result has been remarkable acclaim, from 93-point ratings by Wine Enthusiast, to VinePair naming ARC one of “30 Best Gins” of the year. Consumers increasingly care about provenance; they recognize the profound difference between mass-produced industrial products and honestly handcrafted spirits.

How would you describe the connection between Nantucket and the Philippines? Do you see this company as part of that legacy?

Westfall: It is a fascinating 200-year story of migration and craftsmanship. In the early 1800s, Nantucket whalers ventured as far as the Sulu Sea, frequently recruiting “Manila men”—skilled Filipino sailors—to fill their ranks. Their presence was common enough that Herman Melville introduced them as oarsmen in Moby-Dick. It’s a unique historical arc: Nantucket first sought the Philippines for whale oil; then, Filipino immigrant Jose Reyes revolutionized the island’s most famous souvenir, the lightship basket; and today, our ARC spirits have landed on the island, bringing it full circle. We aim to elevate the craft cocktail experience by bringing an exquisite tropical soul to the world’s finest bars and hotels. It’s a mission anchored on a grandfather’s spirit and a tradition of craftsmanship. What better place to share that story than here on Nantucket?

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17 North Beach Street

Nantucket, MA 02554

(508) 228-1515