Many manufacturers decorate sambuca labels with the inscriptions “Extra”, “Beautiful”, “Magnificent”, but Ercole Galliano was disgusted by verbal tinsel. He modestly called his company’s Sambuca Italica, that is, “Italian”. According to Signor Galliano, the drink was so perfect that it could well serve as a hallmark of Italy. The most Italian sambuca has already celebrated its centenary. Today, this brand is exported to 30 countries.
Sambuca Gagliano Italica is a colorless transparent liqueur with a strength of 40% with a rich aroma of anise. The taste of the drink is moderately sweet, soft, delicate with a warm aftertaste.
Historical reference. Signor Salvatore Galliano, the owner of a small distillery built in 1870 in the vicinity of Palermo, was a talented blender who devoted a lot of time to experiments with the distillation of spirits. The bitter bitters he created, infused with aromatic mountain herbs, sambuca, limoncello, maraschino, “Fior de Cedro” were in great demand. At one of the first international exhibitions of liqueurs, organized in 1875 in Sicily (in the Concha d’Oro valley, in the Casino del Arti), the products of the Gagliano distillery were awarded a bronze medal.
The father’s work was continued by Ercole Galliano, the son of Signor Salvatore. Galliano Jr. considered properly organized logistics to be one of the most important factors in business development. Therefore, in 1909 he moved the company to Verona, from where it was possible to easily deliver liqueurs and grappa throughout Italy.
At that time, several successful firms producing hard liquor were already operating in Verona. However, Ercole Gagliano has withstood tough competition. Until the Second World War, advertising posters for sambuca “Italika” were ordered by the company from the best artists.
The heirs of Signor Ercole restored the production, which was badly damaged during the Second World War. True, despite the excellent quality of products, the brand was known only in Italy.
A new period in the history of Ercole Gagliano began in 1986, when it was taken over by the Verona firm Marcati. The stories of the two companies are very similar. Marcati was founded in 1929 by blender Pietro Marcati, who created many drinks that are still produced according to his recipes.
In the 80s, the Marcato family (signor Pietro’s heirs had to change their surname after the war) built a new, fully automated 4000 m² factory in Sommacapagna. To increase production, Marcati needed a significant expansion of the range. Buying a company
Gagliano was a great success for the Marcato family: the combined Gagliano Marcati company received at its disposal many old, time-tested, popular brands.
About 70% of Gagliano Italica sambuca is sold in Italy, 30% is supplied to the EU countries, South America, Australia and Japan. The list of importers is growing every year. For his achievements in the field of exporting Italian products of the highest quality, Pietro Marcato, President of Gagliano Marcati, was awarded the prestigious Marco Polo government award in 2007.