Marolo Grappa di Barolo 12 Anni is an elegant, long-aged grappa from Marolo in Alba, in the heart of Piedmont. The producer was founded in 1977 by Paolo Marolo, with the ambition of giving grappa a stronger identity as a fine artisanal spirit rooted in origin, grape variety, and craftsmanship. Marolo works with raw material from some of Piedmont’s most respected wine areas and distils in small batches using discontinuous bain-marie stills, a method designed to preserve the character of the grape matter and give the spirit precision and finesse.
This expression is made from Nebbiolo from Barolo and aged for 12 years in small casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV in a 70 cl format, and the long maturation gives it depth, roundness, and a much more refined profile than younger grappa. The producer describes it as amber-coloured, very smooth on the palate yet never cloying, with an aromatic profile dominated by fruit and spice.
In the glass, this is a grappa that leans more on balance and maturity than on sheer force. The flavour profile points toward ripe fruit, dried fruit, and warm spice, supported by rounded cask influence that adds depth without overwhelming the distillate. Marolo’s older Barolo grappas often show notes such as pepper, clove, nutmeg, tobacco, nuts, and dried fruit, so this 12-year-old sits stylistically in the same elegant, spicy, fruit-driven family, though in a slightly softer and more approachable register. In other words, it is an aged grappa with length, warmth, and clear Piedmontese character.
It is best suited as an after-dinner grappa or meditation spirit, ideally served slightly cool rather than cold, so the aromas can fully open up. Dark chocolate, dried fruit, and aged hard cheeses are especially natural partners for this style of aged Barolo grappa. It also works beautifully on its own, when you want something slow, warming, and contemplative in the glass. The pairing suggestions here are based on Marolo’s own recommendations for similar aged Barolo grappas.
