Bottega Gianduia E Grappa Chocolate

TASTING NOTES FROM THE CURATOR

Grappa is an aromatic grape-based pomace brandy from Northern Italy that has a sweet-ish flavor to it. Gianduia—or gianduja, is a chocolate-hazelnut spread invented in Turin during Napoleon’s regency (Nutella is a kind of gianduja).

The Bottega Gianduia e Grappa is a creamy chocolate-hazelnut liqueur that is truly the best of both worlds. Creamy, sweet, and so smooth and velvety, its texture is almost indescribable. It has an ABV of 17%, and the aroma notes of cocoa and nuts follow through to the flavor, with the grappa adding a unique complexity to it.

PREPARATION AND PAIRINGS

Bottega Gianduia e Grappa Chocolate is a drink that can be enjoyed on its own, chilled. But it’s also so much more than a solo drink. Add it to your coffee or your hot chocolate for more adult versions of your favorites. You can also use it to spike your milkshakes and floats. Include it in your homemade whipped cream for a boozy, chocolatey version. Drizzle it over ice cream or over a chocolate pound cake to kick some classic sweets up a notch.

NECESSITY BREEDS INGENUITY

When Napoleon imposed the Continental System in 1806, the import of British goods entering French-controlled European ports was severely impaired. With cocoa supplies strained, a chocoatier in Turin, Michele Prochet, decided to try extending what little chocolate he had by combining it with hazelnuts he got from the Langhe Hills. Thus, was born gianduia, or gianduja. It was named so for a Carnival and marionette character called Gianduja, who was the archetypal Piedmontese.

Storage Instructions

Store your unopened bottle upright in a cool, dark place, ideally between 0 and 12°C. Refrigeration is not necessary, but since cream liqueurs are generally consumed cold, the fridge makes for ideal storage. Unopened bottles of cream liqueur have a shelf life of 2 years. Once opened, the bottle should be consumed within six to twelve months.