A classic and versatile spirit, amaretto is enjoyed neat, as part of a cocktail, or even for cooking. Therefore, it’s always better to heighten your experience by choosing a high-quality specimen.
In this guide, we will present you with the top 10 best amaretto brands that you can find in the USA:
- Adriatico Amaretto
- Gozio Amaretto
- Lazzaroni Amaretto
- Bepi Tosolini Salizá Amaretto Veneziano
- Disaronno Originale
- Amaretto di Amore
- Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira
- DeKuyper Amaretto
- Hiram Walker Amaretto
- Caffo Amaretto
Scroll down to see them all or jump ahead using the links above. We will also cover where to buy amaretto.
What Are The Best Amaretto Brands?
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- Country of Origin: Italy
- Producer: Bellaventura
- Region: Putignano, Puglia
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 28%
- Pricing:
Our favourite amaretto is a relatively new brand that was launched to offer a premium alternative that embraces the craft’s artisanal values. Made with only natural ingredients, it’s produced in Puglia from local vegan-certified roasted almonds.
It offers a full body of bold flavours with just a hint of sweetness to contrast the almonds’ naturally bitter notes. Additionally, its stunning bottle was inspired by the nearby medieval Castel del Monte by using the same golden ratio approach to create its design.
Adriatico is a relatively new brand so it’s still quite hard to find in the USA. Consider also trying out the Bianco version that’s made from white crushed almonds!
"An exquisite amaretto that offers rich notes of toasted almonds contrasted by just a hint of sweetness."
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Producer: Distillerie Franciacorta
- Region: Gussago
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 24%
- Pricing:
- From $28 [Buy From Reserve Bar]
- From $30 [Buy From Wine.com]
- From $25 [Buy From Drizly]
Like Adriatico, Gozio produces a 100% natural amaretto. However, it’s a heritage brand that has been in operation since 1901. Although best known for its premium grappa, it expanded into other liqueurs and brandy in the 1950s.
A smooth and pale liqueur, Gozio is lighter on the palate than Adriatico with a very refined bouquet of fresh almonds and caramel. Indeed, an excellent choice if you’re looking for something less bold and more delicate.
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Distillery: Lazzaroni
- Region: Saronno, Lombardy
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 24%
- Pricing:
- From $26 [Buy On Drizly]
Often credited as the very first amaretto, it first came into existence in the form of Amaretti Chiostro di Saronno biscuits that were presented to the king of Saronno in 1786. The Lazzaroni family then first commercialised the liqueur in 1851, which sought to replicate the flavour.
Today, it is still produced using its original recipe. Apricot kernel amaretto biscuits are crushed and then directly soaked in molasses-based alcohol for two months. Once filtered, it is hydrated and sweetened with beet sugar and cocoa.
Despite its age, Lazzaroni amaretto continues to win awards today. While it delivers subtle aromas of marzipan, you can expect a full-bodied roasted almond flavour with hints of spice.
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Distillery: Bepi Tosolini
- Region: Venice, Veneto
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 40%
- Pricing:
- From $23 [Buy From Drizly]
Not to be confused with its amaro, which is a herbal bitter, Venetian distiller Bepi Tosolini produces an excellent amaretto. Focusing on its marzipan notes, Salizá also features a distinctive citrus note.
Salizá is named after the Salizada del Pignater, a heart-shaped stone near the Piazza San Marco. Legend has it that couples who go there together will love each other forever. Meanwhile, Bepi Tosolini is best known for its grappa, which it has produced for over 75 years.
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Distillery: Industria, Lombarda, Liquori, Vini & Affini
- Region: Saronno, Lombardy
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 28%
- Pricing:
- From $30 [Buy From Drizly]
Without a doubt the most famous amaretto, Disaronno even carries the name of the liqueur’s hometown (“From Saronno”). However, Disaronno hasn’t referred to itself as amaretto since 2001. Today, it’s simply called “Disaronno Originale” largely for marketing reasons.
Its distinctive bottle was designed by a Venetian glassmaker in the 1970s, which was slightly modernised in 2009. As for its flavour, Disaronno uses apricot kernels rather than almonds as well as other herbs and spices. The result is a slightly fruity and herbal bouquet of cherries and marzipan.
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Distillery: Unknown
- Region: Unknown
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 21%
- Pricing:
- From $15 [Buy From Drizly]
Imported to the USA by the Sazerac Company, di Amore is a range of Italian liqueurs from sambuca to limoncello. Unfortunately, it Di Amore reveals little else about where and how it’s produced.
Otherwise, it’s an affordable and mild amaretto that can be easily found throughout the USA. Amaretto di Amore features rich notes of caramel and aromas. Although it has a decidedly sweet and syrupy palate, it’s not cloying and leaves a flavourful finish.
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Distillery: Luxardo
- Region: Torreglia, Padua
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 28%
- Pricing:
- From $31 [Buy From Reserve Bar]
- From $25 [Buy From Wine.com]
- From $29 [Buy From Drizly]
Founded in 1821, Luxardo continues to operate a family company despite multiple hardships including a destroyed distillery during the Second World War. Best known for its maraschino cherry liqueur, it also produces excellent amaretto.
Luxardo’s amaretto di saschira is produced from cherry, peach, and apricot kernels. It results in a deeper flavour that delivers bold notes of toffee and marzipan with notes of baking spice and charred orange peel.
- Country of Origin: Netherlands
- Distillery: Koninklijke De Kuyper
- Region: Schiedam
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 20%
- Pricing:
- From $12 [Buy On Drizly]
DeKuyper is a heritage family brand that has been in operation since 1695. To celebrate its 300th anniversary, it was even awarded a Dutch Royal Warrant by Queen Beatrix! DeKuyper produces a wide variety of different spirits and has adopted a variety of styles from different countries.
Thanks to its strategic Rotterdam location, it has been able to easily import ingredients while exporting its products. For instance, it survived the American Prohibition by exporting alcohol-free bitters and gin.
While it deviates from the traditional recipes by featuring vanilla extract and lemon distillate, DeKuyper amaretto is a wonderfully cheap and cheerful option. It’s a light and sweet amaretto that’s excellent for adding a refreshing touch to mixers.
- Country of Origin: Canada
- Distillery: Hiram Walker & Sons
- Region: Walkerville, Ontario
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 25%
- Pricing:
- From $13 [Buy From Drizly]
Best known for Canadian Club whisky, Hiram Walker’s distillery was founded in 1858 and was family-owned until 1926. Today, the distillery itself is part of Pernod Ricard under the Corby portfolio while the Canadian Club whisky brand itself is owned by Beam Suntory.
The Hiram Walker distillery produces the vast majority of Corby’s products. However, it continues to commercialise liquor under its own name. Although Canadian amaretto does sound unusual, it’s a wonderfully affordable and reliable option. Made from almonds and apricot kernel, it’s produced through an overall traditional recipe.
- Country of Origin: Italy
- Distillery: Distilleria Fratelli Caffo
- Region: Limbadi, Calabria
- Age: N/A
- Casking: N/A
- ABV: 30%
- Pricing:
- From $20 [Buy From Drizly]
Giuseppe Caffo was a grappa master distilled. After years managing different distilleries, he bought his own in Santa Venerina, Sicily. His sons soon followed in his footsteps and transferred production to Limbadi in Calabria. Today, it continues to operate as a fourth-generation family business.
Caffo’s amaretto is 100% natural using only Sicilian almonds, which are macerated in an infusion of Calabrian herbs. It’s an amaretto that’s heavy on the marzipan with a rich and bright flavour without too much sweetness.
Where To Buy Amaretto In The USA?
At its peak in the 1980s, amaretto could be found in abundance on just about any liquor store shelf. Although it was often limited to just a few brands at the time, amaretto enjoyed seemingly boundless popularity in the USA.
By the turn of the century, its esteem began to wane. Consequently, only a few of the most renowned brands continued to imported, which resulted in a few artisanal creations remaining in Italian.
Fortunately, renewed interest and a growing cocktail culture have helped to revive the dwindling amaretto market. Similarly, the internet has helped raise awareness of other lesser-known brands.
Not all liquor stores have caught up, though. Therefore, most shops still tend to sell the usual choices of Disaronno and Lazzaroni. Fortunately, there are a number of online retailers that have started to sell different brands of amaretto.
Currently, both Reserve Bar and Wine.com are just limited to Gozio and Luxardo. However, Drizly has a much greater selection. The only downside is that Drizly works by partnering with local liquor stores. Therefore, your choice may be limited in more rural areas.
Otherwise, if you’re seeking to try out different amaretto brands, consider approaching your local Italian restaurants and delis who will most likely be able to help you.
What Next?
Now that you have read about the best amaretto brands, why don’t you check out more of our resources?
Fascinating! Thanks. I love this stuff & knew nothing about it – especially the apricot kernels.
Thanks Sydney!
Rafael