Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto Liqueur
Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto is Italy's revived rosolio — 20% ABV (40 proof), 750mL, a bergamot-forward liqueur built on Calabrian bergamot and citron, layered with chamomile, lavender, gentian and rose, and bottled in one of the most recognisable bottles in modern spirits. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 20% (40 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Key botanicals: Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian citron (cedro), Roman chamomile from Lazio, lavender, gentian, yellow rose, lemon balm
- Base: Italian neutral grain spirit, lightly sweetened
- Style: Rosolio — the historic Italian liqueur style
- Origin: Italy
The Aperitivo of Kings, Rebuilt in 2016
Rosolio was once the aperitivo of Italian courts — a lightly sweet, aromatic liqueur style that fell out of fashion as bitter aperitivi took over. Giuseppe Gallo, a former brand ambassador with family roots in Italian spirits, spent years rebuilding it around one ingredient: bergamot, the intensely perfumed citrus of Calabria, its essential oils extracted by the traditional sfumatura cold-infusion method and married with Sicilian citron, Roman chamomile, lavender, gentian, yellow rose and lemon balm on a neutral grain-spirit base at Torino Distillati in Moncalieri, near Turin. The result is bright rather than sweet, and unmistakably Italian. Stock it from our liqueurs shelf, browse the wine and aperitif range for its spritz partners, or visit the Italicus vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Fresh bergamot zest and citrus blossom over soft florals. Palate: Bright citrus and rose with chamomile and lavender, lightly sweet. Finish: A gentle bitter-spice close from the gentian, keeping it aperitivo-dry.
How to Enjoy
The signature serve is the Italicus Spritz: one part Italicus, two parts Prosecco, over ice with green olives. It also lifts a Margarita with a bergamot twist and works a treat lengthened with soda as a low-ABV aperitivo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rosolio? A historic Italian liqueur style — lightly sweet, aromatic and citrus- or flower-led — that predates the modern bitter aperitivo. Italicus is a contemporary revival built on bergamot.
What does Italicus taste like? Bergamot first: bright citrus zest and blossom, then rose, chamomile and lavender, with a gently bitter finish that keeps it refreshing rather than sugary.
How strong is Italicus? 20% ABV (40 proof) — liqueur strength, designed to be lengthened in spritzes or used as a modifier in cocktails.
The bergamot spritz essential — buy Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.