Amaretto is an almond-flavored liqueur from Italy. A nutty liqueur that, in most cases, is not made with almonds but apricot kernels and peach stones. For instance, Disaronno, the most popular Amaretto brand, is made from apricot kernels and burnt sugar.
Like Disaronno, most other Amaretti are produced in Italy. Only a few come from other countries. Yet, as a rule of thumb, Amaretto liqueurs from Italy are generally considered of higher quality.
For a better overview and to save you from overly sweet liqueurs, we put together a list of the most popular Amaretto brands.
Our Top Picks
- Best overall: Disaronno Amaretto Originale
- Best for drinking neat: Amaretto Adriatico
- Best budget: Caffo Amaretto
- Best for drinks: Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira
- Best alcohol-free: Lyre's Amaretti
1. Disaronno Amaretto Originale
Origin: Saronno, Italy
Price: $23 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 28%
Made from: Apricot kernels
This liqueur is the benchmark for Amaretto. Disaronno is not only the oldest and most renowned brand to sell and produce the almond-flavored liqueur but has a worldwide market share of around 70%.
To this day, the liqueur allegedly is made according to an ancient original recipe from 1525. -A concoction of neutral alcohol, apricot pits, sugar, and a variety of herbal essences.
The taste of Disaronno is rich and almost Christmasy. Flavors like marzipan, vanilla, dried fruit, caramel, and toasted almonds mingle on the tongue and provide a unique flavor profile. That makes it an excellent choice for drinking neat or on the rocks.
2. Lazzaroni Amaretto
Origin: Saronno, Italy
Price: $25 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 24%
Made from: Lazzaroni Amaretto di Saronno cookie
On the market since 1851, the Lazzaroni liqueur is another influential representative. The taste is much sweeter than most others and carries a delicate almond flavor along with notes of honeycomb and toffee.
That also has to do with the unique base ingredient, the famed Lazzaroni Amaretto di Saronno cookies. Unlike all other Amaretti, Lazzaroni infuses its base spirit with its self-made cookies instead of raw almonds or stone fruit pits and kernels.
The cookies are made from only apricot kernels (20% of the mix), sugar, and egg whites. After being baked, they are crushed, then soaked in alcohol.
3. Amaretto Adriatico
Origin: Putignano, Italy
Price: $32 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 28%
Made from: Roasted almonds
Adriatico is a comparably new and modern producer of Amaretto liqueur. The vegan-certified liqueur is flavored with hand-picked and roasted almonds from Apulia.
Other ingredients in this all-natural product are cinnamon, cocoa, coffee, and just a bit of sea salt. The liqueur is produced locally, and the standard bottles are "Roasted" and "White". In addition to that, Adriatico also offers two barrel-aged expressions of their Roasted Amaretto.
One matures in ex-Bourbon casks, the other in ex-Rum barrels. Sir David Gluckman, the creator of world-renowned liquor brands like Bailey's, Tanqueray, and Ciroc, praised the liqueur with the following words:
"No more sticky and heavy marzipan taste. These roasted almonds definitely symbolize a new generation Amaretto."
4. Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira
Origin: Torreglia, Italy
Price: $25 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 24%
Made from: Pits of cherries, apricots, and peaches
Luxardo is most famous for its Maraschino liqueur, but they also produce an excellent Amaretto. While most producers rely upon a single ingredient for the almond flavor, Luxardo uses three stone fruits: cherries, apricots, and peaches.
This diversity of ingredients also shows in a more complex flavor profile with bold and nuanced notes of almonds, toffee, marzipan, and baking spice.
The liqueur is slightly sweeter than most others, which makes it less suited for sipping but great as an ingredient in Amaretto cocktails. Here the complex flavor profile of Amaretto di Saschira pays off and rewards the drinker with evocative notes of almonds and marzipan.
5. Caffo Amaretto
Origin: Italy
Price: $20 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 30%
Made from: Sicilian almonds
The full name of this delicious Amaretto is "Amaretto Liquore alle Mandorle". In contrast to many other brands, Caffo actually uses fine Sicilian almonds instead of apricot kernels or peach stones.
It's not the best-known Amaretto brand. However, the product is spot-on. It's full of almond flavor without any artificial notes. That, to me, makes it an ideal ingredient in cocktails.
You can use it as one of the classic two-ingredient Amaretto cocktails like the Godfather or the French Connection; -but my favorite drink to make with is an Amaretto (stone) Sour.
6. Gozio
Origin: Brescia, Italy
Price: $28 per 750 ml bottle
ABV: 24%
Made from: Bitter almonds
Gozio Amaretto is flavored with bitter almonds following their traditional recipe from 1901. The methods and the recipe haven't changed in the past 120 years. They don't use artificial extracts, flavors, or colorings.
Gozio is an all-natural product packed with flavors like almonds and burnt sugar. For many bartenders, this liqueur is a contender for the best Amaretto in 2023. One of them is Piero Procida, who asserts:
"Gozio Amaretto is one of those brands that truly stand out."
Gozio is certainly a premium product and one of the top Amaretti. I would also recommend serving it neat over ice, garnished with an orange peel or a slice of orange.
7. Lyre's Amaretti
Origin: Leicestershire, United Kingdom
Price: $26 per 700 ml bottle
ABV: 0%
Made from: Bitter almonds
Yes, this is a non-alcoholic alternative to classic Amaretto liqueur. To make matters even worse, it's from the UK and not from Italy. So why is it on this list?
Well, the taste of alcohol-free liqueur and spirit alternatives is often far from the original. But this almond-flavored liqueur alternative is simply great. It packs plenty of almond flavors combined with vanilla and marzipan without being overly sweet.
I wouldn't recommend it as an alternative for sipping but mixed in low-ABV cocktails or Mocktails Lyre's Amaretti really shines. One of the few non-alcoholic alternatives that I can absolutely recommend.
Final Verdict
Amaretto, the beloved "little bitter" liqueur from Italy, is a real treat. No matter if you prefer to sip it on ice or in a mixed drink. And while you can never go wrong with a bottle of Disaronno, other options are worth trying, too.
Luxardo's Amaretto di Saschira & Caffo Amaretto are both excellent in cocktails. If you're looking for something to sip over ice, try Amaretto Adriatico Roasted or one of their barrel-aged expressions.
As an alcohol-free alternative, grab a bottle of Lyre's Amaretti, and you are set.