Disaronno honours 500 years of heritage
In 2025, Disaronno celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 500 years of heritage, style, quality, and innovation, honouring the timeless essence of ‘Italian Dolcevita’. To mark the incredible milestone, the brand has partnered with one of Rome’s leading bars to create a bespoke celebratory cocktail and will be expanding its presence across outdoor terraces in key UK cities.
The story of Disaronno dates all the way back to 1525, deep in the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Renowned painter Bernardino Luini, who was a gifted pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, was commissioned to create a painting of the Madonna for a church in Saronno, a picturesque town in the north of Italy. In search of inspiration, Luini chose a local innkeeper to pose as his muse.
Moved by the gesture, the woman offered him a unique gift of gratitude: a flask filled with a fragrant, golden-hued liqueur she had infused with delicate herbs and fruits. That lovingly prepared elixir would go on to inspire Disaronno. And so, from a simple act of kindness and a recipe shrouded in secrecy, a centuries-old legend was born, one that still pours into glasses today 500 years on!
In the 1600s, the Reina family rediscovered the recipe, passing it down through the generations. Then in the early 1900s, Domenico Reina decided to open a workshop called “Domenico Reina Coloniali”, situated in the heart of Saronno.
Soon, the shop became a crossroads where people stopped in to taste and buy his products. In 1947, ILLVA SARONNO: Industria, Lombarda, Liquori, Vini & Affini, was founded in the wake of this artisanal activity and, today, Disaronno is distributed in more than 160 countries worldwide. The exact formula remains a closely guarded family secret, passed down through multiple generations.
‘Dolcevita’ – the signature cocktail dedicated to Disaronno’s milestone
Created by mixologist Patrick Pistolesi and his team at Drink Kong Bar in Rome, ranked among the 50 Best Bars, the signature “Dolcevita” cocktail is a modern and refreshing twist on a classic sour. The deep notes of bitter and whiskey blend harmoniously with the unmistakable taste of Disaronno, complemented by the fresh and tropical flavours of pineapple and zesty lemon.
Ingredients:
40ML Disaronno
20ML Rabarbaro Zucca
15ML The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth
20ML Fresh Lemon Juice
10ML Pineapple Juice
5ML Agave Syrup
Patrick Pistolesi is a renowned Italian-Irish mixologist and a pivotal figure in modern cocktail culture. With over two decades of experience, he founded Drink Kong in Rome, an innovative bar that blends futuristic aesthetics with classic mixology, earning it a spot among the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars. Pistolesi also co-founded NIO Cocktails, delivering premium, ready-to-drink cocktails worldwide.
Drink Kong, located in Rome’s Monti district, is a cutting-edge cocktail bar founded by Patrick Pistolesi. The bar offers an innovative “Instinct Menu,” inviting guests to select drinks based on mood and colour rather than traditional menus. Recognised as one of the best in the world, Drink Kong combines avant-garde mixology with a welcoming atmosphere, making it a must-visit destination for cocktail enthusiasts seeking a unique experience.
A Year of Global Celebrations
To honour half a millennium of tradition and innovation, Disaronno will bring its endless Dolcevita style to every corner of the globe, from the traditional neighbourhood bars to the prestigious 50 Best Bars and over 700 cocktail bars across the Asian continent.
The celebrations will span across more than 160 countries where the brand is distributed, reaching people from all cultures and creating a bridge between the past and the future, tradition and modernity, thanks to it’s timeless allure.
