Amaretto

The Amaretto Disaronno square bottle

The term amaretto refers to a sweet liqueur made from a basic infusion of the stones of drupe fruits, such as peaches, as well as a related biscottoalmond. (usually referred to in the plural, biscotti). Amaretto is often thought to be made of almonds due to the almond flavor. Both originate in Italy, where major brands are still produced today.

Origin

Etymology

A little bitter

The name is a diminutive of the Italian amaro, meaning "bitter", indicating the distinctive flavor lent by the mandorla amara--the bitter almond or the drupe kernel. However, the bitterness is not unpalatable, and their flavor is enhanced by sweeteners, and sometimes sweet almonds, in the final products. Therefore, the liqueur's name can be said to describe the taste as "a little bitter", and the plural, referring to the biscuits, suggests "little bitter things" or "things [that are] a little bitter".

Amare vs. amore

Conflation of the homophonous amare with amore ("love") is primarily responsible for the associations with romance. The similarity of amaretto and amoretto leads to the concept of "a little bitter love", referring to the humble but honest offering of Luini's lover. The amaretti created by the amoretti were small biscuits, like love both bitter and sweet, and presented wrapped together in pairs like a pair of sweethearts.

Name confusion

Amaretto should not be confused with amaro, a different Italian liqueur that is flavored with herbs.

History

File:Saronno-Stemma.png

Comune di Saronno coat of arms

Sicily is mostly responsible for the introduction of almonds into general Italian cuisine. Its location has encouraged contact with a variety of ethnic groups who made their presence known in the Mediterranean. Ancient and early Medieval Sicilians traded and otherwise interacted with neighboring Levant cultures to whose lands the almond was indigenous. Later, power in Sicily was taken by the Arabs or "Saracens"; their dominating presence from the 9th to the 11th centuries A.D. helped to diffuse many Arabic cultural and culinary concepts throughout the region.

Almonds became a favored component in Italian food and drink as Arab-Sicilian influence spread over the peninsular mainland, inspiring innovations. The concept reached all the way to the north of Italy, including the region of Lombardy, in which a municipality named Saronno would become famous for its almond-infused liqueur. In many regions, particularly these northernmost ones, distinct local varieties of amaretto biscotti developed. Amaretti di Sassello, unique to Liguria, are very soft and moist, like marzipan. Amaretti di Saronno, at the other end of the spectrum with a crunchy, crisp texture, became associated with the liqueur of the same town and therefore the most prominent style.

Legend

Despite apparently clear etymology of the terms, and known history on the introduction and acceptance of almonds into Italian cuisine, more recent takes on the meanings and origins have come about, further popularized by the two major brands. Though of sometimes questionable factuality, these tales hold a sentimental place in Saronno culture.

The liqueur

In 1525, a Saronno church commissioned artist and Da Vinci student Bernardino Luini to paint their sanctuary with frescoes. As the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed to depict the Madonna, but was in need of a model. He found his inspiration in a young widowed innkeeper, who became his model and (in most versions) lover. Out of gratitude and affection, the woman wished to give him a gift. Her simple means did not permit much, so she steeped apricot kernels in brandy and presented the resulting concoction to a touched Luini.

The biscuit

The invention of amaretti has also received an amorous Renaissance treatment. In the early 1700s, a Milanese bishop or cardinal surprised the town of Saronno with a visit. A young couple, residents of the town, welcomed him and paid tribute with an original confection: on the spur of the moment, they had baked biscuits made of sugar, egg whites, and crushed apricot kernels or almonds. These so pleased the visiting bishop that he blessed the two with a happy and lifelong marriage, resulting in the preservation of the secret recipe over many generations.

Brands

The following is absolutely false Disaronno Originale (56 proof), the most popular brand, has a characteristic bittersweet almond taste and is known for its distinctive appearance. Disaronno claims its "originale" amaretto's "secret formula" is unchanged from the year 1525, and claims the Luini tale as its own particular history. Its production remains in Saronno, but the product is sold worldwide.

The company describes its amaretto as an infusion of "apricot kernel oil" with "absolute alcohol, burnt sugar, and the pure essence of seventeen selected herbs and fruits". The amber liqueur is presented in a rectangular glass decanter designed by a craftsman from Murano.

Formerly known as "Amaretto Disaronno", the company changed the name to "Disaronno Originale".

Lazzaroni Amaretto

Lazzaroni Amaretto (48 proof), produced by Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli S.p.A. and distributed in North America by Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., also presents itself as the first such liqueur. However, it is based on an infusion of Amaretti di Saronno, a process which imparts a "delicate almond/apricot flavor". Lazzaroni claim the tale of the young couple blessed by the bishop as the origin of their the generations-guarded family recipe, dating it to 1718; the amaretto has been in production since 1851.

Lazzaroni Amaretti di Saronno are a popular brand of kosher Italian almond macaroons, sold in various sizes and still wrapped in pairs in colorful paper. Both the biscotti and the liqueur are noted for their distinctive and uniform red packaging.

Usage

Amaretto serves a variety of culinary uses.

Cooking

• Amaretto is added to desserts, including ice cream, which enhances the flavor of the dessert with almonds and complements chocolate.
• Savory recipes which call for it usually focus on meat, such as chicken.
• Amaretti are not commonly used as an ingredient outside Italy.
• The crisp texture of Saronno's macaroon lends itself to tiramisu-like creations.
• Amaretti crumbs may be sprinkled on top of ice cream or gelato, and Lazzaroni adds them to their line of chocolate bars.
• A few shots of Amaretto can be added to pancake batter for a richer flavor.

Beverages

• Non-alcoholic amaretto flavor, commonly available in several brands of flavored syrups and creamers, is added to coffee, hot chocolate, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
• Mixing Amaretto with cola results in taste similar to cherry cola or Dr Pepper, but with alcohol.
• May be served neat (by itself) or on the rocks (with ice).

Amaretto is often added to other beverages to create several popular mixed drinks. In addition to the drinks below, many cocktails which call for coffee liqueur can substitute amaretto for an interesting change of flavor.

The following cocktails highlight Amaretto liqueur as a primary ingredient.

Amaretto Sour

• Traditional: Amaretto liqueur and juice from half a lemon, shaken with ice, strained into an old fashioned glass that has had its rim optionally "frosted" with granulated sugar, and garnished with a maraschino cherry
• Modern: use 3 parts Amaretto and 1 part sour mix instead of the lemon juice; do not frost the rim of the glass with sugar.

Amaretto Stone Sour

• 2 parts (1 fl oz) Amaretto liqueur
• 2 parts (1 fl oz) Sweet and Sour Mix
• Fill Glass with Orange Juice

Dr. Pepper

• 1 part (35 ml) Amaretto in a shot glass
• 200 ml Coca-Cola
• 200 ml light lager beer (eg. Carlsberg)

Pour the Coca-Cola and the beer in a pint glass, taking care not to create too much head. Drop the shot glass containing the Amaretto into in the pint glass, and enjoy!

Cafe Zürich

Irish coffee mug

• 1 part (½ fl oz) Amaretto liqueur
• 3 parts (1½ fl oz) Anisette
• 3 parts (1½ fl oz) Cognac
• Coffee
• 1 tsp Honey
• Whipped cream

Add amaretto, cognac and anisette to an Irish coffee mug. Fill almost to the top with hot coffee. Add honey and top with a dollop of whipped cream.

French Connection

An IBA Official Cocktail

• 1 part (3.5 cl) Amaretto liqueur
• 1 part (3.5 cl) Cognac

Pour all ingredients directly into old fashioned with ice cubes. Stir gently.

Godfather

An IBA Official Cocktail

• 1 part (3.5 cl) Amaretto liqueur
• 1 part (3.5 cl) Scotch

Pour all ingredients directly into old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.

Godmother

An IBA Official Cocktail

• 1 part (3.5 cl) Amaretto liqueur
• 1 part (3.5 cl) Vodka

Pour all ingredients directly into old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes.

Silverlake Slip

Equal parts of Amaretto liqueur and grapefruit (preferably pink grapefruit) juice, served as a shooter or poured over ice in a taller glass.

Sicilian Kiss

Equal Parts Amaretto liqueur and Southern Comfort in shaker with ice and strained into shot glass.

See also

• Italian liqueurs (category)
• List of cocktails
• Liqueur

External links

• "Art of the Drink: Godfather" - A video tutorial on how to make a classic Godfather. (Hosted at AOTDBlog.com)