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Cocktail History
The Grand Galliano is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Nick Mautone at the Rainbow Room in New York City, New York and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails. The drink is described as an “adult creamsicle,” thanks to its combination of two liqueurs: Grand Marnier and Galliano. When shaken together with heavy cream, these ingredients produce a recipe that’s both herbal and sweet with a smooth, dessert-like finish. The herbal notes of Galliano blend seamlessly with the orange-flavored Grand Marnier, while the cream adds richness, making it a delightful after-dinner treat perfect for Christmastime celebrations.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Liquore Galliano L’Autentico: This is a liqueur made in Italy with vanilla, cinnamon, peppermint, lavender, juniper, musk yarrow, star anise, sugar, alcohol, and water.
Orange Curaçao: This is a liqueur made with oranges, sugar, and brandy or rum. I used Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge.
Heavy Cream: This is a thick, high-fat milk product. I used Prairie Farms Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Grated Nutmeg: This is a warm, aromatic spice made from the seed of the nutmeg tree. I used Frontier Co-op Whole Nutmeg.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Peeler: This is a small, handheld tool with a sharp blade that’s used to remove the outer skin of fruits and vegetables. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Grater: This is a tool that’s used to finely shred or zest ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips Grater.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed, shallow, wide-bowled glass that’s designed to enhance aroma and presentation. I used a thrifted coupe glass.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Delicate white color
• Aroma: Citrus, nutmeg, and anise
• Taste: Creamy and thick orange flavor with brandy and anise notes
• Finish: Herbs and a pleasant bitterness
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Out of all the cocktails I’ve tried from Nick Mautone’s The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails, the Grand Galliano in my top three favorites. It has such a unique taste—almost like a vanilla spiced custard with the tiniest hint of mint. It’s also thick, creamy, and indulgent, which makes it a perfect post-dinner drink around the holidays.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails by Nick Mautone.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-22.
Grand Galliano
The Grand Galliano is a Christmas cocktail that was created by Nick Mautone at the Rainbow Room in New York City, New York and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails. Fittingly described as an "adult creamsicle," the recipe shakes its two namesake ingredients, Grand Marnier and Galliano Liqueur, with heavy cream to create a fascinatingly unique, herbal, and tastefully sweet dessert drink.
Ingredients
Method
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Add Galliano, orange curaçao, heavy cream, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Garnish with orange twist.
