National Amaretto Day Date in the current year: April 19, 2024

The word “amaretto” is translated from Italian as “a little bitter”, so it isn’t hard to guess that the liquor originated in Italy. It has been known since at least the 16th century. According to legend, it was invented by an innkeeper from Saronno, who was the model and lover of painter Bernardino Luini.

In 1525, Luini was commissioned by the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli in Saronno to create a series of frescoes depicting the life of the Virgin and Jesus Christ. A young widowed innkeeper became his model and, by most accounts, lover. To express her affection and gratitude, she presented Luini with a liqueur she made by steeping apricot kernels in brandy.

Modern amaretto can be made using apricot kernels, peach stones, bitter almonds, or sweet almonds, depending on the brand. All of these plants belong to the genus Prunus and their seeds (kernels) contain benzaldehyde, a chemical compound responsible for the slightly bitter flavor of amaretto. Amaretto should not be confused with amaro. Amaro, which means “bitter”, is an herbal liqueur flavored with several dozen herbs and roots.

Amaretto is produced by multiple brands, both Italian and foreign. Some of the best-known brands of amaretto include Adriatico (Italy), Bols (Netherlands), Disaronno (Italy), DeKuyper (Netherlands), Gozio (Italy), Luxardo (Italy), and more.

As we’ve already mentioned above, amaretto can be drunk neat or used as an ingredient in cocktails. One of the most popular amaretto-based cocktails is Amaretto Sour. It consists of amaretto, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg whites. The cocktail is usually garnished with maraschino cherries and a slice of orange.

Another popular cocktail with amaretto is French Connection. Named after the eponymous Gene Hackman film, it consists of equal parts amaretto and cognac served on the rocks in an old fashioned glass. French Connection is one of the official cocktails of the International Bartenders Association (IBA).

A similar cocktail named The Godfather is made by mixing amaretto with Scotch whisky. Its variation named The Godmother uses vodka instead of Scotch.

Amaretto is also frequently added to desserts such as tiramisu or ice cream to enhance their flavor. It pairs especially well with chocolate. You can even add a couple of shots of amaretto to pancake batter if you’re in the mood for a decadent breakfast. Some savory recipes, such as amandine sauce, may also include amaretto liqueur.

If you want to celebrate National Amaretto Day, start your day by adding a shot of amaretto to your morning coffee or making amaretto-flavored pancakes. Finish your lunch or dinner off with an amaretto-flavored dessert and indulge in a shot or two of amaretto before going to bed. And don’t forget that everything tastes better when shared with your loved ones!