Galliano (drink)
Encyclopedia
Liquore Galliano L'Autentico, known more commonly as Galliano, is a sweet herbal liqueur
, created in 1896 by Italian distiller and brandy
producer Arturo Vaccari of Livorno
, Tuscany
. Vaccari named the spirit after Giuseppe Galliano
, an Italian hero of the First Italo–Ethiopian War at the end of the 19th century. Its vivid yellow color, currently derived from tartrazine
(a lemon-yellow azo
dye), symbolizes the Gold Rushes of the 1890s. The original manufacturing of the liqueur included blending local Italian ingredients such as anise, lavender and mint with imported vanilla, cinnamon and coriander. The colorless liqueur took on the color of yellow.
Galliano has a large amount of natural ingredients including; star anise
from China
, Mediterranean anise, juniper, musk yarrow, ginger, lavender and peppermint as well as vanilla with its delicate aroma and cinnamon with its spicy touch. Vanilla is the most important ingredient in Galliano. Neutral alcohol is infused with the pressings from all herbs and plants with exception of vanilla. The liquid is distilled and then infused with pressed vanilla, with the aniseed flavours balancing the sweet vanilla ones. In the final stage distilled water, refined sugar and pure neutral alcohol are blended with the base. 30% alcohol by volume, Galliano is marketed as an "ideal marrying ingredient", which adds no intrusive flavor, but serves to give character to other ingredients. Hundreds of recipes involving Galliano are used worldwide.
Galliano has been formulated at both 60 proof
(30% by volume) and 84.6 proof (42.3% by volume). The latter strength is the original recipe, as well as the recipe currently in use. The sweeter 60 proof version is being phased out. Among its approximately 30 herbal ingredients are star anise
, Mediterranean anise
, ginger
, and citrus
and vanilla
.
Galliano has a similar appearance to Strega, another Italian herbal liqueur. Galliano is sweet and has a complex, vanilla-anise flavor with subtle citrus and woodsy herbal under notes. It is used both as a digestif (meant for drinking after heavy meals), and as an ingredient for cocktails, most notably the Harvey Wallbanger.
The vanilla top note
differentiates Galliano from other anise-flavored liqueurs such as Sambuca
, Pernod, or Anisette
.
The Galliano brand is currently owned by Dutch distiller Lucas Bols
, and marketed through its worldwide distribution joint venture, Maxxium. Galliano is packaged in a distinctively-shaped bottle, which is reminiscent of a classical Roman column. Several other liqueurs are also produced under the Galliano brand name, including a black Sambuca, a white Sambuca and an amaretto
, which are predominantly distributed in Australasia
, where the products are popular as shots.
Galliano also makes Galliano Ristretto coffee flavored liqueur and Galliano Balsamico, a presumably balsamic vinegar
infused liqueur.
Galliano is the key ingredient of the Harvey Wallbanger. Because of this, popular drinks made with a float of Galliano often include the words "wall" and/or "bang" in their names. An example of this is the Hillary Wallbanger, a white wine–based version of the Harvey Wallbanger.
organization--Wine Enthusiast--gave Galliano a score of "90-95" in 2011.
Liqueur
A liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods during their production to allow flavors to marry.The...
, created in 1896 by Italian distiller and brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
producer Arturo Vaccari of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
. Vaccari named the spirit after Giuseppe Galliano
Giuseppe Galliano
Giuseppe Galliano was an Italian soldier.He was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Regal Italian army, then one signaled for his skill and mastery in the military art during the campaign of Africa in the battles of Agordat and Battle of Coatit, he was famous for the courageous defense of the fort of...
, an Italian hero of the First Italo–Ethiopian War at the end of the 19th century. Its vivid yellow color, currently derived from tartrazine
Tartrazine
Tartrazine is a synthetic lemon yellow azo dye used as a food coloring...
(a lemon-yellow azo
Azo compound
Azo compounds are compounds bearing the functional group R-N=N-R', in which R and R' can be either aryl or alkyl. IUPAC defines azo compounds as: "Derivatives of diazene , HN=NH, wherein both hydrogens are substituted by hydrocarbyl groups, e.g. PhN=NPh azobenzene or diphenyldiazene." The more...
dye), symbolizes the Gold Rushes of the 1890s. The original manufacturing of the liqueur included blending local Italian ingredients such as anise, lavender and mint with imported vanilla, cinnamon and coriander. The colorless liqueur took on the color of yellow.
Galliano has a large amount of natural ingredients including; star anise
Star anise
Illicium verum, commonly called Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise, is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of northeast Vietnam and southwest China...
from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Mediterranean anise, juniper, musk yarrow, ginger, lavender and peppermint as well as vanilla with its delicate aroma and cinnamon with its spicy touch. Vanilla is the most important ingredient in Galliano. Neutral alcohol is infused with the pressings from all herbs and plants with exception of vanilla. The liquid is distilled and then infused with pressed vanilla, with the aniseed flavours balancing the sweet vanilla ones. In the final stage distilled water, refined sugar and pure neutral alcohol are blended with the base. 30% alcohol by volume, Galliano is marketed as an "ideal marrying ingredient", which adds no intrusive flavor, but serves to give character to other ingredients. Hundreds of recipes involving Galliano are used worldwide.
Galliano has been formulated at both 60 proof
Proof (alcohol)
Alcohol proof is a measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage. The term was originally used in the United Kingdom and was defined as 7/4 times the alcohol by volume . The UK now uses the abv standard instead of alcohol proof. In the United States, alcoholic proof is defined...
(30% by volume) and 84.6 proof (42.3% by volume). The latter strength is the original recipe, as well as the recipe currently in use. The sweeter 60 proof version is being phased out. Among its approximately 30 herbal ingredients are star anise
Star anise
Illicium verum, commonly called Star anise, star aniseed, or Chinese star anise, is a spice that closely resembles anise in flavor, obtained from the star-shaped pericarp of Illicium verum, a small native evergreen tree of northeast Vietnam and southwest China...
, Mediterranean anise
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
, ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
, and citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
and vanilla
Vanilla
Vanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...
.
Galliano has a similar appearance to Strega, another Italian herbal liqueur. Galliano is sweet and has a complex, vanilla-anise flavor with subtle citrus and woodsy herbal under notes. It is used both as a digestif (meant for drinking after heavy meals), and as an ingredient for cocktails, most notably the Harvey Wallbanger.
The vanilla top note
Note (perfumery)
Notes in perfumery are descriptors of scents that can be sensed upon the application of a perfume. Notes are separated into three classes; top/head notes, middle/heart notes, and base notes; which denote groups of smells that can be sensed with respect to the time after the application of a perfume...
differentiates Galliano from other anise-flavored liqueurs such as Sambuca
Sambuca
Sambuca is an Italian anise-flavoured, usually colourless, liqueur. Its most common variety is often referred to as white sambuca to differentiate it from other varieties that are deep blue in colour or bright red ....
, Pernod, or Anisette
Anisette
Anisette is an anise-flavored liqueur that is consumed mainly in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. It is colorless and, unlike some other anise-based liqueurs, contains no licorice.True anisette is produced by means of distilling aniseed...
.
The Galliano brand is currently owned by Dutch distiller Lucas Bols
Lucas Bols
Lucas Bols is a privately held Dutch company in the business of production, distribution, sales and marketing of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest Dutch company still active and the oldest distillery brand in the world. Its brand portfolio consists of Bols, Galliano, Vaccari, Pisang Ambon,...
, and marketed through its worldwide distribution joint venture, Maxxium. Galliano is packaged in a distinctively-shaped bottle, which is reminiscent of a classical Roman column. Several other liqueurs are also produced under the Galliano brand name, including a black Sambuca, a white Sambuca and an amaretto
Amaretto
Amaretto is an Italian sweet almond-flavoured liqueur. It is made from a base of apricot or almond pits, sometimes both.-Etymology:The name is a diminutive of the Italian amaro, meaning "bitter," indicating the distinctive flavour lent by the mandorla amara--the bitter almond or the drupe kernel...
, which are predominantly distributed in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, where the products are popular as shots.
Galliano also makes Galliano Ristretto coffee flavored liqueur and Galliano Balsamico, a presumably balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a condiment originating from Italy.The original traditional product , made from a reduction of cooked white Trebbiano grape juice and not a vinegar in the usual sense, has been made in Modena and Reggio Emilia since the Middle Ages: the production of the balsamic vinegar is...
infused liqueur.
Galliano is the key ingredient of the Harvey Wallbanger. Because of this, popular drinks made with a float of Galliano often include the words "wall" and/or "bang" in their names. An example of this is the Hillary Wallbanger, a white wine–based version of the Harvey Wallbanger.
Famous Galliano cocktails
Galliano is also a key ingredient in mixed cocktails such as:- Hot Shot Galliano
- Golden CadillacGolden CadillacThe Golden Cadillac is an IBA official cocktail, made with Galliano and crème de cacao. It is classified as an "after-dinner" drink, a digestif. This cocktail originated in Poor Red's Bar-B-Q in the town of El Dorado, California....
- Golden DreamGolden dream (cocktail)The Golden Dream is an IBA official cocktail made with the uncommon Liquore Galliano and Cointreau. It is classed as an "after dinner" drink....
- Harvey WallbangerHarvey WallbangerThe Harvey Wallbanger is an alcoholic beverage or cocktail made with vodka, Galliano, and orange juice.-History:The Harvey Wallbanger is reported to have been invented in 1952 by three-time world champion mixologist Donato 'Duke' Antone , the brother-in-law of New York state Senator Carlo Lanzillotti...
- the Yellow Bird
- Sailor Venus
Awards
Galliano has earned bronze and silver medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Another spirit ratingsSpirit ratings
With a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...
organization--Wine Enthusiast--gave Galliano a score of "90-95" in 2011.