Unfortunately, a liqueur-based cream that diminishes the pistachio flavor.
One of the symbols of Christmas, a must-have on every Italian table, is undoubtedly the panettone. Among the endless varieties, the pistachio panettone is a staple, and navigating the countless options between supermarket and artisanal versions is no easy task.
The most famous pistachio panettone is likely the PanBacco, produced by the Bacco company, based in Bronte. Originally launched as an extraordinary artisanal panettone, it has gradually transformed into a mass-market product: has it managed to maintain the same quality as in the early years?
Although the panettone is overall good, the demands of mass distribution have forced the use of a new (more liquid) cream, replacing the dense anhydrous cream (what we usually call "pistachio nutella") used previously. This change was necessary to ensure the dough wouldn't dry out over a long shelf life. Unfortunately, the new cream doesn't taste like pistachio, but rather has a distinct liqueur-like flavor.
Is this a necessary choice? No, because other producers solve the problem by including a small jar of pistachio spread on the side (to be spread at the moment of serving). If you want a panettone with the spread already inside, you have to look at artisanal products (without a long shelf life).
The panettone dough is good and quite soft (considering we are talking about a supermarket product), confirming that this is a quality product (within its category). Another point in its favor is the excellent distribution of the cream, which you will find in abundance in every slice.
Ultimately, the rating can only be 4/10, as the overall flavor is good (provided you enjoy the specific taste of the new cream), but the pistachio flavor is, in our opinion, almost non-existent.
We hope that Bacco can retrace its steps and find a solution to the problem, especially since it is a company we have always greatly appreciated and one that is capable of producing excellent products like their savory pestos (among the best in our ranking).
