Switching It Up: Disaronno Introduces First New Product in Almost Half a Millennium

By Sam Slaughter September 1, 2015

switching it up disaronno introduces first new product in almost half a millennium — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This fall, Disaronno is launching Disaronno Riserva, the company’s first new product since 1525. Before we get into the product itself—which we were lucky enough to get our hands on (because science!), let’s do a little history and put this event into perspective. The last time Disaronno launched a new product:

People still believed the earth was the center of the universe (Galileo wouldn’t be born for another few decades).
The first permanent American settlement, Jamestown, was still eighty-two years from being founded.
George Washington wouldn’t go über-patriotic on England’s ass for another two hundred and fifty years.

If those facts weren’t enough, here’s a short list of things that weren’t invented back then: sandwiches, Corvettes, air conditioning, beer bongs, and Tinder.

Related: Gin Made With Dead Wood Ants Tastes Way Better

Disaronno Riserva takes the sweet, silky flavor of amaretto that the company is known for and blends it with Scotch whisky that was hand-picked by Augusto Reina, CEO of the ILLVA Saronno Company. From there, the spirits were blended in vintage Marsala wine barrels in Marasla, Sicily, where the spirit was aged for twelve years.

(And just for the record, when they say vintage, they mean vintage. Some of the barrels date back to 1938.)

This may all sound well and good, but is it worth it? The short answer is yes, it is definitely worth it.

If you’re a fan of Disaronno at all, you’ll recognize the nose that the liqueur is known for. The taste is similar, but the scotch and the Marsala aging do wonderful things. There are hints of pepper in Riserva, and a final fruitiness that blends well with the vanilla and almond that’s always been there.

If you think Disaronno is too sweet, give this one a try. It clocks it at 40% ABV (compared to Disaronno’s 28%) and the scotch gives it a bit of a backbone that may come as a surprise Disaronno drinkers.

Disaronno Riserva retails for $375 per bottle and only 10,000 bottles were made, so if you’re feeling like a hip cat and wanting to relive the glory days of the toasted almond cocktail, track one of these bottles down when it is released this October.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…

Food & Drink

We know the most popular cocktails — Try these underrated drinks instead

Try some alternatives to the most popular cocktails

Cocktails

Recently, we wrote an article about the 10 most popular cocktails in the US. Not surprisingly, it was littered with classic drinks like the Mojito, Margarita, Old Fashioned, and Moscow Mule. But drinking cocktails isn’t a popularity contest. Just because many people seem to enjoy Espresso Martinis doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking your classic Dirty Martini.

But, if you take a moment to peruse the list of the 10 most popular drinks, you might see a few you like and others you aren’t sure about. That’s okay. Lucky for you, we’re here to help. That’s why today we’re all about the underdogs.

Food & Drink

How to start your own home bar: the tools and mixers

the best home bar glassware version 1612854960 for your 2021

So you're building up your home bar. You've got the essential spirits in. You've added a selection of liqueurs and bitters to combine them with. Now, it's time to add the finishing touches. From mixers to tools to glasswear, we're rounding up everything else you'll need to turn a corner of your kitchen into a great home bar.
Speaking of the kitchen – this is, in my experience, the absolute best place for a home bar. While I love a good bar cart for a living room (or even an office, if you have that kind of job!) these are really more decorative than a practical place to mix drinks. The problem with using bar carts for serious cocktail making is twofold: One, the surfaces are usually too low, at below hip height, so you'll be bending over uncomfortably while you try to make your drinks. That's not chic, and it's hard on your back too. Instead you want something that's counter level, hence opting for the kitchen. The second issue is access to ice and a sink. Mixing serious cocktails requires a large amount of ice and frequent washing of glasses and tools. Sure, you can get an attractive ice bucket for your bar cart, and that certainly makes a fun decorative accessory. But you'll still be running back and forth to the kitchen to use the sink all the time anyway.
If you love the style of a bar cart, I certainly wouldn't want to stop you having one. They are great fun, and stylish to boot. I have a bar cart myself in my living room, which I love and use for very simple mixed drinks like negronis (though even then, you still have to go and fetch ice every time you want a drink). It's a great place for occasional special bottles, particularly beautiful glasswear, cocktail books, and other decorative accessories.
But for serious cocktail making, you want an area of clear counter space, near to a sink and to a freezer full of ice, and with easy access to all your bottles and tools. I find a small kitchen island perfect for this purpose, tucked into a corner of the kitchen near the appliances. Store bottles and equipment on the lower shelves of the island or on wall-mounted shelves to save space, and make sure you have a lamp or decent overhead lighting so you can see what you're doing while you mix. You'll want a small chopping board as well for slicing citrus and other fruit, and a small, sharp knife that you can borrow from your kitchen equipment.
Then it's time to turn your attention to home bar tools.

Essential home bar tools

Food & Drink

Big Green Egg brings back a fan-favorite item for a limited time

However spend your evenings outdoors, the Big Green Egg Chiminea is there to help keep things warm

The Big Green Egg Chiminea.

Love good times by the fire on a chilly night? Want to enjoy a few drinks in a toasty spot after a long day at work? Of course, we all do. But throwing some logs in a pit in the ground doesn't quite do it. If you want a cozy evening, Big Green Egg brings the wow with the release of a special Chiminea to celebrate 50 years in business, and it will take your gathering around the fire to a whole new level.
The Big Green Egg update

Big Green Egg has been the go-to for outdoor grillers and smokers looking for an outdoor cooker for decades. But if you want to hang out in the fresh air without cooking, the Chiminea is what you need. Freestanding fireplaces aren't new, and Big Green Egg isn't trying to reinvent them. The vintage version from 1999 is the starting point, with upgrades worthy of a 50th anniversary.
What's cracking with this egg
If it's not broken, don't fix it, right? But even the littlest changes will make something feel fresh. For those who aren't the best at starting a fire and keeping it going, the Chiminea comes with Lava Rocks to keep the flames roaring more evenly and for longer. Made from NASA-grade ceramic, the quality isn't something to worry about, either. And, yes, it's still in that gorgeous, signature deep green color.