Marzadro Noiela (Roasted Hazelnut Liqueur) 5CL

Born from the ashes and poverty of post WW2 Northern Italy, Marzadro Distillery was not an overnight success. Bored with her job as a domestic servant, Sabina Marzadro founded the business in 1949. It was a hard slog but Sabina had two big things in her favour:  Pristine botanicals of Italy’s alpine Trentio region and a burning desire to make great grappa.

Slowly but surely Marzadro perfected their skills, developing some of Italy’s finest grappas and adding liqueurs, amaro, whisky, cremes and herbal distillations along the way.

Nowadays run by Sabina’s grandchildren, Marzadro is based in the beautiful mediaeval mountain village of Nogaredo, nestled in the Dolomites just north of Lake Garda. Their drinks are top quality, commanding massive respect in Italy’s hard to impress distilling sector. Artifex hold by far the UK’s biggest range of their products.  Get some.

Marzadro Noiela is an exquisite Italian hazelnut liqueur boasting an alcohol content of 25% ABV. This premium spirit delivers a warm amber appearance with enticing toasted undertones. 

Tasting Notes

•    Aroma: Intense and enveloping, heavily dominated by roasted hazelnut combined with sweet floral fragrances, vanilla notes, and subtle whispers of aged spirit.
•    Palate: Delightfully silky, smooth, and rounded. A balanced, friendly sweetness coats the mouth, highlighting deep, toasted nut flavours harmonised with a sophisticated, light spiciness.
•    Finish: Remarkably persistent and velvet-like, leaving a lingering, aromatic warmth of roasted hazelnut on the final display.

Serving Suggestions & Cocktail Ideas

This hazelnut liqueur is incredibly adaptable and serves as an exceptional digestif to close a meal.

•    Neat or On the Rocks: Serve it slightly chilled or over a large cube of ice in a small glass to appreciate its smooth texture.
•    Nutty Espresso: Pour a generous splash directly into a hot cup of fresh espresso to create a luxurious twist on a traditional Italian coffee.
•    Noiela Alexander Cocktail: Shake 3 cl of Noiela, 3 cl of dark crème de cacao, and 3 cl of fresh double cream with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and dust with fresh nutmeg for a velvety, indulgent tipple.
•    Hazelnut Old Fashioned: Stir 5 cl of aged bourbon, 1.5 cl of Noiela, and a dash of Angostura bitters with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with an orange twist to balance the sweet, nutty profile with oaky bourbon notes.

Food Pairings

Noiela pairs beautifully with an array of post-dinner treats. The toasted hazelnut profile cuts through the bitterness of dark chocolate and complements cocoa-infused desserts like a rich chocolate fondant or a classic tiramisu. It acts as a flawless topping when drizzled over artisanal vanilla or coffee ice cream. For a drier pairing, enjoy a glass alongside dry pastries, cantuccini, or an assortment of roasted nuts and dried fruits.

Distillation Methods

The signature production method behind Noiela demonstrates their dual mastery of infusion and distillation. The process opens with a cold maceration of hand-picked, expertly toasted hazelnuts immersed in pure alcohol to extract their essential oils and deep flavours. To add unprecedented depth and sophistication, this infusion is blended with Marzadro’s renowned Grappa Stravecchia Le Diciotto Lune—a benchmark grappa systematically batch-distilled in traditional copper Bain-Marie stills and aged for 18 months in small wooden barrels. This integration provides a mature complexity that elevates Noiela beyond a standard fruit liqueur.