Amaretto, which translates to “a little bitter,” is an Italian liqueur with a distinct almond flavor. It’s made from apricot or peach pits, almonds or a combination of all three. Flavored with extracts that are added during production, it’s also enhanced with sweetening agents like caramelized sugar, which further deepen its amber hue.
Sometimes overlooked as overly saccharine, the best and most complex amarettos have a measured sweetness tempered by botanicals or spices. Today, it’s produced in countries like the U.S., Portugal and Italy. Want to learn more? Here’s everything you need to know about amaretto.
While this liquor can be served alone, it’s also fabulous on the rocks, in baked goods or, perhaps most famously, in cocktails. In that department, it’s perhaps best known as a key ingredient in an amaretto sour, which marries amaretto with a heady blend of bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and a beaten egg white.