From the outset, Kinnie set out to be different from the other beverages which were then available and over the past 60 years its bittersweet taste has evolved to become one of Malta's leading and much loved brands.
The drink was the brainchild of former Farsons chairman and managing director, the late Anthony Miceli Farrugia, or is-Sur Ninì as he was better known.
It was developed as a response to the entry of a number of international brands that were being introduced into post-war Malta.
In Sur Ninì's own words: "When we launched Kinnie in 1952, we had no intention of coming into the market with a soft drink which tasted like any of the renowned international beverages. Our new drink had to possess a distinctive character, so as to identify it from the competition."
Being different and original was a key condition to Kinnie's development and in spite of many imitations it inspired over the years, it continued to retain its appeal, even successfully competing against the world's largest global soft drink brands.
Farsons has over the years extended the Kinnie brand which today includes Diet Kinnie, a low-calorie version launched in 1984, and Kinnie Zest, a sugar-free, extra orange flavour variant that appeals to a younger generation of new consumers, launched in 2007.
Following its successful introduction to the UK trade in 2010, Kinnie enjoyed a breakthrough listing with Amazon UK last year, resulting in encouraging sales.
A celebration campaign with several promotions and events is planned as a celebration of Kinnie's 60th birthday.