The Best Amaretto: Disaronno, Lazzaroni, Luxardo and the Bottles Worth Your Shelf
Most people buy amaretto the same way: they grab the square bottle they already know. That works, but it means missing the bottles that taste more like real almonds, less like candy, and make a better Amaretto Sour. Here is how we sort amaretto at the counter: by sweetness, by what it's made from, and by how you plan to drink it. Every bottle below ships nationwide.
In This Guide
Our Picks at a Glance
- Best overall amaretto: Disaronno Originale. The benchmark: rich marzipan, cherry and vanilla, consistent every time.
- Best amaretto for an Amaretto Sour: Disaronno for the classic, Lazzaroni for a drier, nuttier sour.
- Best amaretto to sip: Gozio Amaretto. Bitter almond, toasted sugar, no artificial flavors.
- Best amaretto for coffee: Disaronno. Rich enough to stand up to a dark roast.
- Best real-almond amaretto: Villa Massa Amaretto. Sicilian almonds, a little stronger, a little less sweet.
- Best for beginners: Disaronno. Smooth, sweet and familiar on ice.
- Best cherry-forward amaretto: Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira. Made with Marasca cherry pits from the maraschino house.
- Best amaretto under $20: Amaretto di Amore. Light, sweet and fine for mixing in volume.
- Best bartender's pick: Tempus Fugit Crème de Noyaux. The pre-Prohibition cousin of amaretto.
The Best Amaretto, Compared
ABV is the producer's published US strength. Sweetness is how each bottle drinks in practice, rated low, medium or high.
| Bottle | Style / Origin | ABV | Flavor | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disaronno Originale | Amaretto, Saronno, Italy | 28% | Marzipan, cherry, vanilla; high sweetness | Under $30 | Amaretto Sour, on ice |
| Lazzaroni Amaretto | Amaretti cookie infusion, Saronno | 24% | Baked cookie, toasted almond, cocoa; medium | Under $40 | Coffee, drier sours |
| Gozio Amaretto | Bitter almond infusion, Franciacorta | 24% | Bitter almond, burnt sugar; medium | Under $30 | Sipping neat |
| Villa Massa Amaretto | Sicilian almonds, Sorrento | 30% | Fresh almond, apricot kernel; medium | Under $40 | Sipping on ice |
| Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira | Cherry-pit amaretto, Veneto | 24% | Almond, dark cherry, vanilla; medium-high | Under $30 | Godfather, desserts |
| Amaretto di Amore | Value amaretto | 21% | Light almond, sweet; high | Under $20 | Big-batch mixing |
| Tempus Fugit Crème de Noyaux | Kernel liqueur, 19th-century recipe | 30% | Apricot kernel, cherry pit, bitter almond; medium | Under $50 | Classic cocktails |
| Frangelico | Hazelnut liqueur, Piedmont | 20% | Toasted hazelnut, vanilla; high | Under $30 | Coffee, dessert drinks |
| Toschi Nocello | Walnut liqueur, Modena | 24% | Walnut, vanilla; medium-high | Under $40 | After dinner, on ice |
| Luxardo Angioletto | Hazelnut liqueur, Veneto | 22% | Hazelnut, cocoa, vanilla; high | Under $25 | Coffee, affogato |
Best Amaretto for an Amaretto Sour
The Amaretto Sour lives or dies on balance. Amaretto is sweet, so you want a bottle with enough flavor to stand up to fresh lemon without turning into syrup. These are the two we reach for.
The bottle most recipes were written for. Disaronno is built on apricot kernel oil with burnt sugar and a blend of herbs and fruits, which is why it reads as marzipan and dark cherry more than raw almond. It's richer and slightly stronger than most amaretti, and that extra body keeps a sour from going thin. If you only buy one amaretto, this is it. Hosting a crowd? The 1.75L is the better buy.
Lazzaroni is the cookie company behind Amaretti di Saronno, and its liqueur is made by infusing those cookies. The result tastes baked rather than candied: toasted almond, brown sugar and a hint of cocoa. It's lighter in proof, so pair it with a bolder spirit in the sour. People who find Disaronno too sweet usually end up here.
How we make an Amaretto Sour
The version most bartenders use today comes from Portland bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler, who added bourbon to give the drink backbone. Our take:
- 1½ oz amaretto
- ¾ oz bold bourbon, such as Buffalo Trace
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp rich simple syrup (optional, taste first)
- ½ oz egg white (optional, for foam)
Dry shake without ice, then shake hard with ice. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon peel and a cherry. Luxardo maraschino cherries are the ones we keep at home. Skip the bottled sour mix; fresh lemon is the whole point.
Best Amaretto to Sip
For sipping, look for bottles made with real almonds or kernels and less sugar. These taste nutty and a little bitter, the way amaretto did before it became a dessert flavor. Pour 1½ ounces over one large ice cube.
Made by Distillerie Franciacorta, a grappa house founded in 1901, from bitter almonds infused for about sixty days with alcohol and burnt sugar. The brand says no artificial aromas or extracts go in, and you can taste the difference: bitter almond up front, caramel in the middle and a dry, clean finish. This is the bottle we hand to people who say they don't like amaretto.
Villa Massa is best known for limoncello, and its amaretto uses Sicilian almonds. At 30% ABV it is one of the stronger amaretti we know, with fresh almond, apricot kernel and noticeably less sugar than the mainstream bottles. Sip it chilled after dinner.
From the family behind Luxardo Maraschino. Luxardo adds the pits of its own Marasca cherries to the traditional apricot kernels, which gives a darker cherry note under the almond. Lovely on ice, and our favorite amaretto for a Godfather.
Best Value Amaretto
Light, sweet and easy. It doesn't have the depth of the Italian bottles above, but for a big batch of punch, spiked hot cocoa or a party where nobody is sipping neat, it does the job for about half the price.
Our honest advice: the jump from a value bottle to Disaronno, Lazzaroni or Gozio is only around $15, and it's the single biggest upgrade you can make to an Amaretto Sour. If the drink is the star, spend the extra.
Beyond Amaretto: Other Nut Liqueurs
Noyaux is the older French cousin of amaretto: apricot and cherry kernels with bitter almond and other botanicals. Tempus Fugit's version is far more complex than the cheap red bottles of the past. Bartenders use it in classics like the Pink Squirrel and in tiki drinks. If you like amaretto and want to go deeper, start here.
Hazelnut and walnut liqueurs fill the same after-dinner slot. Frangelico is the toasty hazelnut classic for coffee. Toschi Nocello is walnut-based from Modena, rounder and less sweet. Luxardo Angioletto adds cocoa and vanilla, perfect over gelato.
Prefer your after-dinner drink bitter rather than sweet? See our guide to the best bitter liqueurs, from Averna to Fernet.
How Amaretto Is Made
What the name means
Amaretto comes from the Italian amaro, bitter, and means roughly "a little bitter." The bitterness comes from almonds and stone-fruit kernels, which are balanced with sugar. Saronno, north of Milan, is its spiritual home: both Disaronno and Lazzaroni come from there.
Almonds vs. apricot kernels
This is the biggest difference between bottles. Some amaretti use almonds (Gozio, Villa Massa). Others use apricot kernels, or cherry and peach pits, which give the same almond-like flavor (Disaronno, Luxardo). Lazzaroni infuses amaretti cookies. Almond-based bottles tend to taste fresher and drier. Kernel-based bottles taste rounder and more like marzipan.
Infusion vs. flavoring
Better amaretti steep real ingredients in spirit for weeks. Cheaper ones lean on flavorings and more sugar. That's why value bottles taste sweet and one-note, while the Italian houses taste layered.
Proof
Most amaretto sits between 20% and 30% ABV. Higher proof usually means less sugar per sip and better structure in cocktails.
How to Drink Amaretto
- On the rocks: 1½ ounces over one big cube with an orange twist. The easiest way to taste the difference between bottles.
- Amaretto Sour: amaretto, a splash of bourbon, fresh lemon, optional egg white. Recipe above.
- Godfather: 2 parts Scotch, 1 part amaretto, stirred over ice. A blended malt like Monkey Shoulder works well. Swap in vodka for a Godmother.
- French Connection: equal parts cognac and amaretto over ice. A nightcap in two ingredients.
- In coffee: an ounce in hot coffee with whipped cream, or a splash in an Espresso Martini.
- Over dessert: drizzle over vanilla gelato, or use it to soak ladyfingers for tiramisu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best amaretto?
Disaronno is the best all-around amaretto and the standard for an Amaretto Sour. For sipping, Gozio and Villa Massa taste more like real almonds and are less sweet. For coffee, Disaronno or Lazzaroni.
What is the best amaretto for an Amaretto Sour?
Disaronno, because its richness holds up to lemon. For a drier, nuttier sour, use Lazzaroni and add ¾ ounce of bourbon.
Disaronno vs. Lazzaroni: what's the difference?
Disaronno is sweeter, richer and slightly stronger (28% ABV), with a marzipan and cherry profile from apricot kernel oil. Lazzaroni (24% ABV) is made by infusing amaretti cookies, so it tastes more like toasted almond and baked sugar.
Does amaretto contain nuts?
It depends on the bottle. Some are made with almonds, and others use apricot or cherry kernels with no almonds at all. Recipes and allergen statements vary by brand, so anyone with a nut allergy should check the label or ask the producer before drinking any amaretto.
How strong is amaretto?
Usually 20% to 30% ABV (40 to 60 proof). Disaronno is 28%, Villa Massa 30%, Lazzaroni and Gozio 24%.
Does amaretto go bad?
No. The sugar and alcohol keep it stable for years, and it doesn't need refrigeration. The aroma fades slowly once opened, so finish it within a year or two for the best flavor.
Shop Amaretto at The Liquor Barn
Disaronno, Lazzaroni, Gozio, Luxardo and more, plus the nut liqueurs that pair with them. Ships nationwide. Family-owned since 1982.
Shop Amaretto All Liqueurs Cream LiqueursThe Liquor Barn operates three retail locations in Vernon Hills, Wheeling, and Niles, Illinois. We are a licensed Illinois retailer and ship to states where direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping is permitted. Prices and availability change; the product page always has the current price. Questions about shipping to your state? Contact us here. Please drink responsibly.
