Amaretto Liqueur

Amaretto Liqueur is a sweet, almond-flavored Italian liqueur known for its rich and smooth taste.

  • 5 min
  • Easy
  • Collins Glass
  • 11 ingredients
Hero bottle: Brandy →

Amaretto Liqueur

Ingredients

1
  • Sugar1 cup
  • Water¾ cup
  • Apricot2
  • Almond flavoring1 tblsp
  • Grain alcohol½ cup pure
  • Water½ cup
  • Brandy1 cup
  • Food coloring3 drops yellow
  • Food coloring6 drops red
  • Food coloring2 drops blue
  • Glycerine½ tsp

Method

  1. Combine sugar and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
  3. Reduce heat and simmer until all sugar is dissolved.
  4. Remove from heat and cool.
  5. In an aging container, combine apricot halves, almond extract, grain alcohol with 1/2 cup water, and brandy.
  6. Stir in cooled sugar syrup mixture.
  7. Cap and let age for 2 days.
  8. Remove apricot halves.
  9. (Save apricot halves, can be used for cooking).
  10. Add food coloring and glycerine.
  11. Stir, recap and continue aging for 1 to 2 months.
  12. Re-bottle as desired.
  13. Liqueur is ready to serve but will continue to improve with additional aging.
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What you need

Nothing fancy. Here is what to look for. We earn a small cut if you buy through these links, at no cost to you.

A long bar spoon

Long enough to reach the bottom of a tall glass, with a twisted stem.

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Highball glasses

Tall and straight, 10 to 12 oz, with a heavy base.

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A double jigger

Marked in oz and ml, with lines inside for the small measures.

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The hero bottle

A spirit distilled from wine or other fermented fruit, usually grapes, and often aged in oak. It's made all over the world, and most bottles are around 40% ABV. Warm dried fruit, vanilla and oak, like fruitcake with a kick. Young bottles are sweeter and sharper, and older ones are smoother and woodier.

See 51 Brandy drinks

Where it comes from

Amaretto liqueur, meaning 'little bitter' in Italian, originated in Italy with a history spanning centuries of almond-infused spirit production. The modern commercial version traces to the 16th century in Saronno, Italy, where an apothecary created an almond-flavored liqueur using a secret recipe that remains unchanged. Amaretto evolved from medicinal roots to become a beloved after-dinner liqueur and versatile cocktail ingredient enjoyed globally.

Tips from the bar

  • Serve neat as a digestif at room temperature to appreciate delicate almond aromatics
  • pair with dairy products for smooth, complementary flavor combinations
  • use in sour-style cocktails to add sweetness and body without excessive cloying
  • balance sweetness with citrus or dry spirits in mixed drinks
  • serve slightly chilled for optimal drinking experience

Twists worth trying

Amaretto Sour
A sour-style preparation with fresh lemon juice, egg white, and aromatic bitters
Amaretto Colada
a creamy tropical adaptation with coconut rum and pineapple juice
Spiced Amaretto Martini
a spiced martini variation with cinnamon and nutmeg

What to eat with it

  • Almond biscotti
  • panna cotta
  • cherry tart
  • tiramisu
  • chocolate-covered almond
  • mascarpone dessert

The finished drink

Amaretto Liqueur

Questions

What is in a Amaretto Liqueur?

A Amaretto Liqueur is made with sugar, water, apricot, almond flavoring, grain alcohol, water, brandy, food coloring, food coloring, food coloring, glycerine.

What glass do you use for a Amaretto Liqueur?

Serve a Amaretto Liqueur in a collins glass.

What does a Amaretto Liqueur taste like?

Expect sweet, nutty, almond.

What can I make with Brandy?

We have 51 drinks built around Brandy. See them all on the Brandy page.

More with Brandy

Every Brandy drink →
After Dinner Cocktail
Allegheny
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Stone Sour

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