Amaretto

Amaretto is an Italian alcoholic beverage of the amaro class, a dark brown liqueur based on almonds and/or apricot kernels and spices. The exact composition of the liqueur has been kept secret by the producers since 1525. The strength of the beverage is 21-30%. The drink is traditionally produced in the city of Saronno, Italy.

There is an unlikely but sentimental legend about the creation of this drink: In 1525, the church entrusted the artist Bernardino Luini, a student of Leonardo da Vinci, to decorate its sanctuary with frescoes. Since the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed to portray the Madonna, but a model was needed for this. He found his inspiration in the young widow of the innkeeper - she became a model for the artist and (in most variations of the legend) a lover. Out of gratitude and attachment, the woman wanted to make a gift for the artist. The modest financial resources of the widow did not allow to make an expensive gift, so she prepared a drink from brandy and apricot kerns and presented it to the man touched by the attention.

Amaretto can be drunk neat or in cocktails. The drink is often added to tea or coffee to give them a taste of almonds.

The most famous brands: DiSaronno Amaretto Originale - traditional liqueur, it was invented in 1525; Lazzaroni Amaretto - drink with a strength of 24%, in production since 1851; Bols Amaretto - elite drink; Amaretto San Giorgio - a very sweet liqueur.