Galliano is named for Italian war hero Maggiore Giuseppe Galliano, who gave his life in the first Italo-Abyssinian War (1895–1896). It’s an Italian liqueur created in 1896 by Arturo Vaccari in Livorno, Tuscany. Some say his recipe was based on a homemade liqueur Galliano carried into battle himself.
The recipe that Vaccari created was changed in 1989 when Remy Cointreau bought the company and rebranded it as "Galliano Vanilla Liqueur." However, the brand was purchased by Lucas Bols (the current owner) in 2006 and the recipe was changed to what it says is the original.
The exact production and recipe are secrets, but we know that it features 30 Mediterranean herbs. Its iconic yellow appearance and signature taste has helped it become one of Italy’s most famous and regarded herbal liqueurs, a go-to for bartenders, and a key part of retro cocktails like the Harvey Wallbanger and the Golden Cadillac.