The Five Best Amarettos to Use in an Amaretto Sour

The Amaretto Sour is a cocktail that is easy to make and it only requires a few ingredients. You must include 3 ounces of Amaretto, two ounces of Sweet and Sour Mix, and Sprite to give it a bubbly effervescence. Mix these ingredients in a shaker, pour over ice in a tall glass and garnish with orange slices and cherries. The trick to making the best Amaretto Sours is to use the best Amaretto. What makes an amaretto the best? For some, it is a bold and sweet flavor with a distinct punch. For others, it is a smooth and layered array of essences that combine to produce a myriad of taste sensations on the tongue. You don't want to cut corners when it comes to the liqueur because this is what gives the drink its overall character. Here is a list of our picks for the five best Amarettos with variations in their characters to use in your Amaretto Sour cocktails for the best results.

5. Bepi Tosolini Saliza Amaretto Veneziano

This label hails from Italy. The recipe uses brandy-infused real almonds that create the lovely fragrance of marzipan. It's a versatile amaretto that is full-bodied with an aggressive and bold combination of layered flavors that take the darker side of the palate. The first impression on the nose is marzipan in a pure form. On the tongue, the flavor of chocolate is the first taste that hits the palate, turning to an earthy flavor of roasted nuts that favor the essence of hazelnut over almond. As it lingers on the palate, a layer of heavy vanilla extends the finish to a sweet sensation on the tastebuds. The 56 proof liqueur is suitable for sipping as neet after a satisfying meal but is also an exceptional liqueur for making Amaretto sour cocktails with a bold character.

4. Amaretto di Amore

Amaretto di Amore is created and distilled by Sazerac in the state of Kentucky, USA. The recipe for this unique amaretto combines apricot juice with bitter almonds. The fragrance is sweet with hints of fresh almond pace, but that all changes when it arrives on the palate. The first notes are dark and earthy chocolate flavors with emerging essences of ripe banana and almond extract. This product contains 21 percent alcohol which is weaker than most amarettos. Some mixologists shy away from it because of its sweetness and weak alcohol content, but we include it for those who prefer weaker cocktails with a sweeter personality. This is a niche Amaretto tailored to meet the requirements of light drinkers who prefer to keep their alcohol consumption low while not avoiding the festivities.

3. Caffo Amaretto

Caffo Amaretto is an award-winning liqueur that comes from a longstanding family tradition. It is a pure recipe that sources Sicilian almonds combined with an herbal infusion with 100 percent natural ingredients. The almonds are grown on the distiller's estate with added sugar and alcohol. The process includes macerating the almonds in an herbal infusion that creates the pure essence of marzipan on the nose. It's like having a dessert n a glass with its sweet almond flavors on the palate, tinged with essences of orange and vanilla with a lingering finish that continues long after taking the last sip. It's recommended for the preparation of amaretto sours but is also a suitable liqueur for various other cocktails. The ABV is 30 percent.

2. Gozio Amaretto

Gozio Amaretto is a unique liqueur that undergoes a unique creation process. The ingredients of the recipe are combined and left for a minimum of 60 days to infuse and blend. It is a 100 percent natural label that contains no artificial ingredients or fragrances. Nor does it contain extracts or other additives. The result is a pale-colored liqueur made of premium natural ingredients including a secret blend of fruit from four different continents, alcohol, burnt sugar, and premium bitter almonds. The result is a light-bodied amaretto with an amber color. The first impression on the nose is the scent of sweet amaretti cookies with a biscotti essence combined with apricot stone. On the palate, bright high notes of almond tempted with the heavier essence of cakes soaked in rich nutty alcohol with notes of maraschino cherries rising in a smooth finish. This is the ideal choice for classic amaretto sour cocktails. The alcohol by volume of Gozio Amaretto is 24 percent. It's not the strongest liqueur, but it is one of the most highly celebrated.

1. Disaronno Originale

Disaronno is one of the most well-known and respected labels in the industry. Although it became available commercially early in 1900, the roots of distilling go back in time to the year 1525. Several centuries of refinement and evolution have gone into the development of its premium Amaretto. The recipe that is used in the making of Disaronno has been kept a secret, passed down to only those who need to know. Some information about the ingredients is available. Whether rumor or fact, it's suggested the flavor of the product comes from apricot kernels as the mainstay. On the nose, the scent of almond extract is the first aroma to register with heavy notes that lighten into a slight vanilla fragrance. A complex array of flavor layers hit the tongue with the first nuance of almond, followed by brown butter with nutmeg and cinnamon hints. Disaronno Amaretto has a lingering, slightly sweet finish. Disaronno is 56 proof alcohol.