Galliano – one of the most famous Italian liqueurs, the recipe of which was invented in 1896 by the Italian distiller Artur Vakari. Named after Giuseppe Galliano, hero of the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The strength of the drink is 30%.
This exquisite anise-vanilla liqueur is considered one of the best cocktail and digestive drinks of our time. Its golden color is pleasantly pleasing to the eye, reminiscent of the sun’s rays shining through the piles of amber, sparkling in the sun; and graceful elongated bottles, imitating the shape of ancient Roman columns, unequivocally allude to the historical homeland of the drink.
History of Galliano liqueur
Liquor appeared in 1896, immediately after the end of the First Italo-Ethiopian War (1895 – 1896). This shameful colonial war did not bring Italy any new overseas possessions, or even a reason for national pride.
The Ethiopian army, armed mainly with spears and flintlock guns, smashed the descendants of the ancient Romans in the tail and mane.
The only relatively bright spot against the background of this total disgrace was the feat of the hereditary Italian military, Major Giuseppe Galliano, whose one and a half thousandth garrison, left to the mercy of fate in Fort Mekele, resisted the almost one hundred thousandth Ethiopian army besieging him for a month and a half and eventually ended the fight on honorary conditions.
In honor of a brave officer who soon died, a distiller from the Tuscan Livorno, Arturo Vaccari, decided to name his own Alpine-type liquor, which is rather difficult to prepare.
The drink was based on the principle of medieval medicinal plant elixirs, prepared by repeated extracts and distillations of the raw materials.
The brand is currently owned by the Dutch company Lucas Bols. By the way, the Dutch distillers worthily honored the memory of Vakkari himself, naming a fairly good brand of sambuca, launched in 1990, after him.
Composition and taste of Galliano
The recipe for a basic thirty-percentage drink, today called Galliano Vanilla, includes more than 30 herbal ingredients, which, as you understand, cannot be replaced by anything.
Among them: Mediterranean and star anise, musky yarrow, ginger, juniper berries, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, sugar and, of course, vanilla.
The list of ingredients, as well as the liquor production process, a number of stages of which are carried out manually, of course, is kept secret.
The result is the same classic Galliano – a liqueur whose taste is determined by the presence of a vanilla and anise leitmotif, harmoniously combined with a spice-herbal background and faint hints of citrus fruits.
A special mention deserves the rich aromatic bouquet of the drink, containing shades of creamy toffee, peach, cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee and chocolate.
There are also several modifications of the famous liquor:
Galliano L’Autentico
The same original Galliano liqueur, thanks to which the brand gained worldwide fame. It has a golden color with a light green tint.
Exclusive recipe from Mediterranean exotic herbs and plants.
The taste is reminiscent of a medieval elixir of herbs, plants, roots, spices and flower seeds.
The ingredients of this drink are classified, but we can say for sure that the composition includes: anise, juniper berries, musk, lavender, peppermint, cinnamon and vanilla.
Galliano vanilla
The same classic Galliano recipe with over 30 herbs and spices, but with a more subtle vanilla aroma and flavor.
Galliano The Aperitif
A well-balanced bitter with fresh Mediterranean notes of oranges, bergamot, bitter oranges, chinottos, tangerines and grapefruits.
Galliano Amaretto
The perfect balance of almonds and cherries, roasted cocoa beans and a hint of vanilla bourbon.
Galliano Ristretto
Powerful liqueur with the taste of coffee ristretto, which is so adored by Italians.
Relevance: 02.12.2016
Tags: Liqueurs, Pourings, Liqueurs, Brands of liqueurs