There is a distillate in the city of Ascoli Piceno, with the unmistakable aroma of green anise, that scents of aristocracy, international travels, awards and medals, but also of stubborn dreams and a spirit of enterprise all typical of the Italian province. It is the story of Anisetta Meletti, the liqueur that since 1870 carries an aura of elegance, tradition, and today more than ever, a desire to connect with new generations.
The founder, Silvio Meletti, certainly did not come from a wealthy family. His roots were humble, and it was in that soil of sacrifice and ingenuity that the idea emerged that would forever change his destiny. Growing up helping his mother in a small shop where, among other things, homemade anise distillate was sold, Silvio soon became passionate about the art of distillation. He did not just observe: he studied 18th-century manuals in French, experimented, perfected, until he found a unique recipe.
That infusion of green anise from the Marche region, grown in clayey soils that can enhance its aroma, would become the unmistakable signature of Anisetta Meletti.
The result? A distillate that, even today, is crafted with the same artisanal care thanks to the discontinuous distillation in a water bath and the skillful addition of aromas from fruits, flowers, and seeds.
But Silvio Meletti was not only a skilled distiller, he was also a marketing visionary. He understood that to make his Anisetta known, one had to take risks. He started by giving bottles to trusted people in neighboring countries, creating a word-of-mouth strategy that was set to turn into a commercial network. Then came the international fairs, where the liqueur from Ascoli captivated judges and connoisseurs: Paris 1878, Ostend 1901, Turin 1911, Brussels 1910. Medals, diplomas of honor, up to the prestigious title of Supplier to the Royal House, granted by King Umberto I.
The Anisetta Meletti thus became a symbol of aristocracy and style, not only in the glass but also in communication. Silvio relied on the best poster artists of the time, including Marcello Dudovich, creating affiches that still today represent an extraordinary iconographic heritage. As if that were not enough, in 1903 Silvio decided to gift his city a place that would be worthy of his liqueur: he purchased the building of the Regie Poste in Piazza del Popolo and transformed it into the splendid Caffè Meletti, a liberty jewel that still enchants tourists and locals today.
The decorated ceilings, the floral motifs recalling anise, the sinuous lines of the floral style: everything oozes European sophistication. It is no coincidence that the newspapers of the time wrote that Silvio was creating “a café worthy of a European capital.” Throughout the twentieth century, Caffè Meletti became a stage for meetings, chats, loves, and business, a cultural and social landmark.
The history of Anisetta has never been interrupted. After Silvio, it was his son Aldo who took care of the commercial side, traveling all over Italy and communicating with his father through letters sent in advance to the hotels where he would stay. A system that today seems like science fiction, but shows how organized and extensive the Meletti network was. Then it was Annamaria's turn, Silvio's daughter-in-law, who kept the company alive during a difficult time: the only woman to lead the firm in over 140 years of history. Subsequently, Silviano took over, serving as president from the 1950s until 2005, and today the management is still in the hands of the family, now in its fifth generation.
An unbroken thread that connects the past and the present.
Talking about Anisetta Meletti today means risking slipping into nostalgia. Yet, its aristocratic charm is anything but dusty. On the contrary, it is precisely that timeless aura that makes it intriguing for the young. In an era that seeks authentic experiences and products connected to the territory, Anisetta Meletti is re-emerging as a surprising discovery. In the most discerning cocktail bars, it can be found as an ingredient in contemporary mixes, capable of offering freshness and aromaticity: from twists on the Negroni to reinterpretations of the Spritz, the Marche anise finds a new voice.
Over 150 years since its inception, Anisetta embodies the purest values of made in Italy: tradition, craftsmanship, quality, and beauty. A product that has never surrendered to industrial logic, maintaining the original processing method intact while complementing it with modern bottling and distribution techniques. And recognition has not been lacking even today: in 2024, the company was awarded Spirit Brand of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in San Francisco, confirming that Anisetta is not just a memory, but also a future.
Ultimately, drinking a glass of Anisetta Meletti means much more than savoring a liqueur. It means participating in a ritual that has crossed through eras, wars, social and cultural changes.
It means feeling part of a community that recognizes beauty and quality as universal values.
And if once Anisetta was the symbol of the city's aristocracy, today it becomes an ideal bridge between generations: for grandparents, it evokes the times when Caffè Meletti was the beating heart of the city; for young people, it offers an authentic product capable of fitting into contemporary trends without losing its essence.
Each sip carries the discreet charm of an aristocratic past and the freshness of a future yet to be written. Because, as Silvio said, “quality is true nobility.” In the landscape of Italian spirits, Anisetta Meletti represents a unique case: born from a story of sacrifice and ingenuity, it has become a symbol of elegance and is recognized worldwide, but especially capable of speaking today to a new audience, who do not just want to drink but to experience. A glass of Anisetta is not simply a liqueur: it is a journey through time, a Liberty caress, a toast that unites past and future. And perhaps that is why in Ascoli, even today, it is sipped with pride: “An Anisetta, please.”
