Tivan was born from the vision of Andrea Bonacina and Tiziana Gerosa, who in 2021 decided to turn their shared passion into the creation of the first Single Malt Whiskies from Lake Como. Crafting this fine spirit is a matter of time, patience, and trust in the process. “The bottles currently on sale come from two casks we filled more than three years ago,” explains Andrea. “After at least three years of aging, we assess whether the spirit is ready or needs more time in the barrel. The two casks we bottled, although young, had developed the character we were looking for and showed excellent quality.”
The process is entirely artisanal, taking place in a distillery just a few kilometers from Como, using top-quality 100% Italian and local ingredients, from the malted barley to the wood of the barrels. The first two whiskies produced by Tivan are Lago and Sera. Lago, more traditional, has an alcohol content of 45% and was matured in an oak cask previously used by a brewery in the Como area. On the other hand, Sera, at 50%, owes its rounder, more enveloping flavor to virgin acacia wood, an unusual choice for whisky barrels that yielded an outstanding result.
“Fresh out of the barrel, the whisky has an alcohol content of 60.1%; after careful evaluations, we adjusted the strength by adding water to enhance its flavor profile,” says Tiziana. “Constant monitoring over time is what sets whisky apart from other spirits—this ongoing evolution is what makes it so fascinating. The wide range of possible outcomes from the same raw material is what gives true value to the result.”
Unlike most whiskies on the market—which are typically blends of several carefully selected barrels made to standardize flavor—Tivan produces only single cask whiskies, meaning each spirit comes from a single barrel made of local wood. This choice reinforces the connection with the territory and its lake. The name Tivan is inspired by the Tivano, the thermal wind that blows over Lake Como from nearby Valtellina. Tivan is the result of Andrea and Tiziana’s dedication—after years of research, study, and countless tastings, they have poured all their love for the world of whisky into their elegant bottles, crafted with meticulous attention to detail, from the design to the label. Today, Tivan can be purchased online or in selected stores across the Como and Lecco area.