Amaretto Liqueurs - Difford's Guide

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Words by Simon Difford

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Amaretto is a fragrant almond flavoured liqueur. Traditionally, the almond flavour and slight bitterness come from oil extracted from bitter apricot kernels. However, sufferers of nut allergies should be aware that some amarettos are now made using almonds.

Despite their flavour, surprisingly, amarettos such as Disaronno Originale don't contain any almonds, or indeed nuts! They derive their nutty almond flavour only from apricot kernels. Other brands of amaretto, such as Adriatico Amaretto, have an almond flavour because they are made with roasted almonds.

The name amaretto comes from a diminutive of 'amaro', the Italian word for bitter, referencing the bitter almond (mandorla amara) so essential to the balance of a good amaretto. Some say the name means 'a little bitter' while others say amaretto is a conflation of amaro (bitter) and amore (Italian for love), perhaps a reference to the fairy-tale story of the creation of Disaronno, which claims to be the original amaretto.

Infusions and distillations of various other botanicals, most importantly vanilla, contribute to the flavour of amaretto, as does burnt sugar caramel, which also gives the liqueur its dark chestnut hue.

Amaretto is a versatile cocktail ingredient, and we have over 150 amaretto cocktail recipes here on Difford's Guide.

"Cream" and "Bianco" amaretto liqueurs

Amaretto cream liqueurs are made with dairy cream. However, "bianco" amaretto liqueurs, such as Adriatico Bianco, are made with almond milk, so despite their white creamy appearance, they don't contain dairy. (Although please be sure to double-check the label if you have an allergy or intolerance.)

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Adriatico Amaretto Liqueur

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Disaronno Originale Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Adriatico Caroni Cask Aged Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Adriatico Bonollo Grappa Cask Aged Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Adriatico Planteray Cask Aged Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Adriatico Bourbon Cask Aged Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Luxardo Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 24

Galliano Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Saliza Amaretto Veneziano

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Strega Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Giffard Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 25

Bols Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 24

Gabriel Boudier Amaretto Almond Liqueur

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Lazzaroni Amaretto liqueur

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 24

Joseph Cartron Amaretto Liqueur

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 25

Gozio Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 24

De Kuyper Amaretto Liqueur

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 30

Bols Amaretto Foam Liqueur

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 24

Sette Vie Amaretto Classico

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Disaronno Originale 20% alc./vol.

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 20

Knight Gabriello Amaretto Di Toscana

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 28

Mazzetti Amaretto

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordialsSub category: Nut liqueursalc./vol: 25

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