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Amaretto
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Main page For other uses, see Amaretto (disambiguation).

Contents Not to be confused with amoretto or amaretti di Saronno.
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Amaretto (Italian for "a little
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bitter") is a sweet Italian
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Contact us liqueur that originated in
Donate Saronno. While originally
flavoured from bitter
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almonds, various modern
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commercial brands are
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prepared from a base of
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Recent changes apricot stones, peach
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which are natural sources
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of the benzaldehyde that Bottles of amaretto liqueur.
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provides the principal
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almond-like flavour of the
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liqueur.[1][2] It generally contains 21-28% alcohol by volume.[3]
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Page information When served as a beverage, amaretto can be drunk by itself, used as an
Cite this page ingredient to create several popular mixed drinks, or added to coffee. Amaretto is
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also commonly used in culinary applications.
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1 Origin
Printable version
1.1 Etymology
In other projects 1.2 Legend
Wikimedia Commons 2 Notable brands
3 Usage
Languages
3.1 Cooking
Dansk
3.2 Cocktails
Deutsch
3.3 Orgeat Syrup
Español
Français 4 See also
Italiano 5 Notes
Nederlands 6 External links
Polski
Русский
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20 more
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Etymology [ edit ]
The name amaretto originated as a diminutive of the Italian word amaro,
meaning "bitter," which references the distinctive flavour lent by the mandorla
amara or by the drupe kernel. However, the bitterness of amaretto tends to be
mild, and sweeteners (and sometimes sweet almonds) enhance the flavour in the
final products.[4] Thus one can interpret the liqueur's name as a description of the
taste as "a little bitter". Cyanide is processed out of the almond preparation prior
to its use.[citation needed]

One should not confuse amaretto with amaro, a different family of Italian liqueurs
that, while also sweetened, have a stronger bitter flavour derived from herbs.

Legend [ edit ]

Despite the known history on the introduction and acceptance of almonds into
Italian cuisine, newer takes on the meanings and origins have been popularized
by two major brands. Though of sometimes questionable factuality, these tales
hold a sentimental place in Saronno culture:

In 1525, a Saronno church commissioned artist Bernardino Luini, one of

Leonardo da Vinci's pupils, to paint its sanctuary with frescoes. As the church
was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed to depict the Madonna, but
was in need of a model. He found his inspiration in a young widowed
innkeeper, who became his model and (in most versions) lover. Out of
gratitude and affection, the woman wished to give him a gift. Her simple
means did not permit much, so she steeped apricot kernels in brandy and
presented the resulting concoction to a touched Luini.[5][6]

Notable brands [ edit ]

DeKuyper – Netherlands
Disaronno – Italy
Lazzaroni – Italy
Bols – Netherlands
Luxardo – Italy

Usage [ edit ]

Amaretto serves a variety of culinary uses.

Cooking [ edit ]

Amaretto is frequently added to desserts, including ice cream, which

enhances the flavour of the dessert with almonds and is complementary to
the flavor of chocolate. Tiramisu, a popular Italian cake, is often flavoured
with either real amaretto or alcohol-free amaretto aroma.
Savoury recipes that call for amaretto usually involve meats, such as chicken.
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.
Cocktails [ edit ]

Cocktails with Amaretto liqueur as a primary ingredient:

Amaretto Piña Colada - Amaretto liqueur, light rum, coconut milk, and
pineapple juice.[7]
Amaretto Sour - Amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, sugar or simple
syrup and orange slice and cherries, for garnish .[8][9][10]
French Connection - Amaretto liqueur and Cognac. - IBA official cocktail
Godfather - Amaretto liqueur and Scotch.
Nutcracker Martini - Amaretto liqueur, dark crème de cacao, vodka, and Irish
cream.[11]
Snickerdoodle Cookie Martini - Amaretto liqueur, cinnamon liqueur, and
cinnamon vodka.[12]

Orgeat Syrup [ edit ]

Amaretto is sometimes used as a substitute for Orgeat Syrup in places where the
syrup cannot be found, or just to impart a less sweet flavour.

See also [ edit ]

List of cocktails
Liquor portal
List of almond dishes

Notes [ edit ]

1. ^ "Best of Sicily Magazine" . Amaretto. Roberta Gangi. Retrieved March 17,

2018.
2. ^ "GOZIO Amaretto Almond Liqueur" . AHardy USA Ltd. Archived from the
original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
3. ^ Graham, Colleen. "What Is Amaretto Liqueur?" . The Spruce Eats. Retrieved
September 25, 2020.
4. ^ Hopkins, Kate. "Almonds: Who Really Cares?" Archived October 18, 2006,
at the Wayback Machine (August 28, 2004). Accidental Hedonist. Retrieved
January 1, 2007.
5. ^ foodnetwork.ca. "A Brief History of Amaretto" . Shaw Media Inc. Retrieved
December 30, 2011.
6. ^ Disaronno Archived December 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
Retrieved January 1, 2007. Home → Heritage → Page 2: The Legend. (A direct
link is not available due to the Adobe Flash-based interface.)
7. ^ "Amaretto Pina Colada" . Retrieved January 2, 2016.
8. ^ Morgenthaler, Jeffrey. "I Make the Best Amaretto Sour in the World" . Retrieved
December 12, 2013.
9. ^ "Amaretto Sour" . Absolut Drinks. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
10. ^ "Amaretto Stone Sour Drink Recipe | DeKuyperUSA" . Archived from the
original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
11. ^ "DeKuyper Nutcracker Martini" . Archived from the original on December 3,
2015. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
12. ^ "Snickerdoodle Cookie Martini" . Retrieved January 2, 2016.
External links [ edit ]

Media related to Amaretto liqueurs at Wikimedia Commons

V·T·E Alcoholic drinks [show]

Categories: Amaretto liqueurs Almond dishes Fruit liqueurs

Italian liqueurs

This page was last edited on 31 October 2020, at 10:48 (UTC).

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