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Pisa Liqueur Photo Credit: Bill Rockwell |
Those
familiar with Amaretto, the almond-flavored liqueur from Italy, should
recognize the taste and visual similarity of Pisa, another Italian nut –based liqueur
from the Tuscany region.
The
difference on the palate lies in the fact that the producer of Pisa also blends
in hazelnuts (think Frangelico) and pistachios to recreate a more subtle flavor
profile extended even more with a hint of orange peel. All these are blended so
carefully that no one ingredient overpowers the others.
Swirl this
honey colored liqueur in your snifter and bombard your olfactory senses with
sweet nutty-ness. Then watch as the viscous liquid slowly descends the sides of
the glass forming prominent legs that defy gravity and linger.
Perhaps not
as sweet as its Amaretto cousin, Pisa caresses the mouth with a velvety, sensuality
that warms as it’s swallowed – not with an unpleasant burn, but with the whisper
of a hot summer breeze.
The
liqueur gets its name from the Tuscan city of Pisa, located in a region known
for its nut production and famous for its leaning tower. As a marketing tool, the liqueur bottle has
the same lean or slant as the tower, something that might cause a hearty
imbiber to rub his or her eyes for a second look. Yes, the bottle designers
came up with an iconic look, one that stands out from its fellows on a bar. In
this regard, Pisa might be thought of as taking a new “slant” on Amaretto.
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Italian Coffee - Pisa in Coffee |
Bottled at 48 proof, Pisa can be drunk as an aperitif
before meals or as a digestif afterwards.
It can be enjoyed in a brandy snifter at room temperature or in a
cocktail glass over ice. I like it to flavor my coffee. Just remember to hold
the sugar.
Pisa should
be heaven when poured over vanilla ice cream and can be added to whipping
cream to top off a dessert. And did I mention its empathy for cheesecake, nut
rolls, crème anglaise and pumpkin pie?
Pisa is also versatile enough to serve as a
cocktail ingredient. Hotmixology.com suggests making a Living the Dreamsickle by
putting in a cocktail shaker with ice Pinnacle Orange Whip Vodka, Pisa Liqueur,
espresso and heavy cream.. Shake, pour into a martini glass and garnish with
an almond biscotti.
Pisa sells
for a suggested retail price of $23.00, $19.99 at Pennsylvania liquor stores.
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