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For other uses, see Amaretto (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Amoretto.
Bottles of amaretto liqueur.

Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavoured, Italian liqueur. It is made from a base of apricot pits or almonds, sometimes both.[1]



The name is a diminutive of the Italian amaro, meaning "bitter," indicating the distinctive flavour lent by the mandorla amara—the bitter almond or the drupe kernel. However, the bitterness is not unpalatable, and the flavour is enhanced by sweeteners, and sometimes sweet almonds, in the final products.[2] Therefore, the liqueur's name can be said to describe the taste as "a little bitter". Conflation of amaro and amore ("love") is primarily responsible for the associations with romance.[3] Amaretto should not be confused with amaro, a different family of Italian liqueurs that, while also sweetened, have a stronger bitter flavour from herbs.





Disaronno Originale[edit]

Main article: Disaronno
The Disaronno Originale rectangular bottle, which was marketed as an amaretto until 2001.

Disaronno Originale (28% abv) has a characteristic bittersweet almond taste (although it contains no almonds or nuts) and is known for its distinctive appearance. Disaronno has been in production since about 1900. It claims its "originale" amaretto's "secret formula" is unchanged from 1525,[7] and claims the Luini tale as its own particular history. Its production remains in Saronno, but the product is sold worldwide.


The product was originally named "Amaretto di Saronno Originale" (Original Amaretto from Saronno). It subsequently changed to "Amaretto Disaronno", transforming the origin of the product into a more distinctive brand name. Finally, it changed once more to "Disaronno Originale"; it has not marketed itself as an "amaretto" since 2001.

According to the Disaronno website, their amaretto contains no almonds, and is nut-free. Therefore, it is safe for people with nut or related allergies.

Lazzaroni Amaretto[edit]

Lazzaroni Amaretto (24% abv), produced by Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli S.p.A., also presents itself as the first such liqueur. It is based on an infusion of Amaretti di Saronno (macaroons), a process which imparts a "delicate almond/apricot flavour". Lazzaroni claim the tale of the young couple blessed by the bishop as the origin of their generations-guarded family recipe, dating it to 1718; the amaretto has been in production since 1851.[8]

Other brands[edit]

Many distillers produce their own brand of amaretto. Among them are Bols, DeKuyper, Hiram Walker, Luxardo, Mr. Boston, Paramount, Phillips and Vincenzi Amaretto Di Torino.


Amaretto serves a variety of culinary uses.


  • Amaretto is added to desserts, including ice cream, which enhances the flavour of the dessert with almonds and complements chocolate. Tiramisu, a popular Italian cake, is often flavoured with either real amaretto or alcohol-free amaretto aroma.
  • A few shots of amaretto can be added to pancake batter for a richer flavour.
  • Amaretto is often added to almondine sauce for fish and vegetables.
  • Amaretto is often added to whipped cream.



The following cocktails highlight Amaretto liqueur as a primary ingredient.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "GOZIO Amaretto Almond Liqueur". AHardy USA Ltd. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved October 18, 2010. 
  5. ^ "A Brief History of Amaretto". Shaw Media Inc. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
  9. ^ Morgenthaler, Jeffrey. "I Make the Best Amaretto Sour in the World". Retrieved 12 December 2013. 

External links[edit]