THE LEGEND – SINCE 1525:

In 1525, the painter Bernardino Luini—a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci—was commissioned to paint a Madonna fresco in Saronno. He chose a beautiful local innkeeper as his model. In gratitude for being immortalised in his masterpiece, she created a special amber liqueur from a secret recipe as a gift. This became the very first bottle of Disaronno—born from Renaissance romance between artist and muse.

The secret recipe was rediscovered by the Reina family in 1600 and has been produced by them ever since. The family still owns ILLVA Saronno today, remaining faithful to that original 500-year-old formula.

THE SECRET RECIPE:

Surprisingly, Disaronno contains no almonds or nuts whatsoever—making it suitable for those with nut allergies. The distinctive almond flavour comes from:

Apricot kernel oil – Creates the marzipan-like almond taste

Burnt sugar – Natural amber color, no artificial additives

17 selected herbs and fruits – Secret blend adding complexity

Absolute alcohol – Premium neutral grain spirit base

The exact recipe remains a closely guarded secret, unchanged for 500 years.

THE ICONIC BOTTLE:

The distinctive square bottle with its signature square cap was designed by a master glassmaker from Murano, Venice, in 1971. Created to be instantly recognisable—even by touch in a dark bar—it has been exhibited at Paris’s Louvre Museum and featured in fashion collaborations with Versace, Moschino, and Roberto Cavalli.

TASTING NOTES:

Nose: Intense marzipan and sweet almond, baked apricot, vanilla, hints of burnt sugar. Aromatic and alluring.

Palate: Velvety smooth with bittersweet almond flavors. Marzipan, amaretti cookies, stone fruit warmth, vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, subtle citrus. Sweet yet balanced with characteristic gentle bitterness.

Finish: Long and warming with lingering toasted almond and marzipan. Sweet but balanced by faint toasty bitterness.

PERFECT SERVE

On the Rocks:

50ml Disaronno over ice in rocks glass, garnish with orange slice.

With Mixers:

Cola (classic combination)

Orange juice (bright and fruity)

Cranberry juice (tart balance)

Coffee or hot chocolate (Italian tradition)

CLASSIC COCKTAILS:

Amaretto Sour:

50ml Disaronno, 25ml fresh lemon juice, and optional egg white. Shake with ice, serve over ice with a lemon slice and a cherry.

Godfather:

50ml Scotch (or bourbon), 25ml Disaronno. Stir with ice, serve over a large ice cube with an orange twist.

Disaronno Spritz:

50ml Disaronno, 75ml Prosecco, splash soda. Build in a wine glass with ice, orange garnish.

FOOD PAIRING:

Perfect as an after-dinner digestif. Excellent with ice cream, tiramisu, chocolate desserts, or added to coffee. Also enhances baking and dessert recipes with wonderful almond flavour.

CERTIFICATIONS:

Nut-free (no almonds despite almond flavour)

Kosher certified

Non-GMO

No artificial additives

WHY DISARONNO:

500 years of Italian heritage (celebrating 500th anniversary in 2025)

World’s leading amaretto brand, sold in 160+ countries

Versatile: perfect neat, on ice, in cocktails, or with mixers

Iconic Murano-inspired bottle design

Safe for nut allergy sufferers

Essential home bar ingredient

OCCASIONS:

After-dinner digestif, cocktail hour, coffee enhancement, gift-giving, Italian gatherings, sophisticated entertaining.

STORAGE: Store in cool place away from sunlight. Maintains quality for months once opened. No refrigeration needed.

MADE IN ITALY by ILLVA Saronno S.p.A., still owned by the Reina family. Every bottle carries 500 years of Italian craftsmanship, Renaissance romance, and la dolce vita.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.