20 best Amaretto cocktails

Amaretto's bittersweet almond and vanilla notes mix brilliantly with dark spirits, particularly whiskey and brandy, but this versatile liqueur also pairs well with a wide range of white spirits, vodka, obviously, but also tequila and gin. Some of the cocktails below also harness how well amaretto blends with sherry, maderia and marsala.

1. Almond Old Fashioned (bourbon-based)

With: Bourbon, amaretto, brown sugar syrup and aromatic bitters.
We say: Bourbon's sweet notes are lifted and amplified by amaretto's almond flavours.
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2. Almond Old Fashioned (Tequila-based)

With: Reposado tequila, amaretto, agave syrup and orange bitters.
We say: One to please fans of both tequila and the Old Fashioned genre, with amaretto adding the headline hint of almond.
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3. Almond Piña Colada

strong>With: Light white rum, amaretto, pineapple juice, lime juice, and orgeat syrup.
We say: As the name suggests, this rum-laced cocktail has flavours of pineapple and almond.View the recipe

4. Amaretto Sour

With: Amaretto, lemon juice, aromatic bitters and egg white.
We say: Sweet 'n' sour - frothy with an almond buzz.
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5. Amaretto Sour (by Jeffrey Morgenthaler)

With: Amaretto, bourbon, lemon juice and egg white.
We say: Just as the name suggests, but with a slug of bourbon providing backbone.
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6. Bakewell Tart Sour

With: Cognac, amaretto, cherry syrup, lemon juice, and aromatic bitters.
We say: A name that perfectly sums up the cocktail.
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7. Bella Donna Daiquiri

With: Dark rum, amaretto, lemon juice and sugar syrup.
We say: We discovered this at the Bellagio in Las Vegas back in 2003.View the recipe

8. Brooklyn Godfather

With: Bourbon, amaretto, dry and rosso vermouths.
We say: Described by some as being more a bourbon whisky-based Godfather with vermouth than a Brooklyn.
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9. Dulce Di Lecce

With: Amaretto, bianco amaretto, and mint amaro.
We say: This dessert cocktail, as its name suggests, is reminiscent of dulce de leche.
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10. Explorer 'Martini'

With: Blended Scotch, amaretto, and amontillado sherry.
We say: Amontillado sherry amplifies butterscotch notes in a blend of whisky and amaretto.
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11. Godfather

With: Scotch whisky and amaretto liqueur.
We say: Adjust the proportions of each ingredient to suit your taste or the time of day.View the recipe

12. Homely Smoke

With: Cognac, amaretto, peated malt whisky, honey and aromatic bitters.
We say: Rich honey and almondy amaretto mellow peaty malt and brandy.
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13. Italian Margarita

With: Tequila, amaretto, triple sec, and lime.
We say: Amaretto adds its distinctive almond notes to a classic Margarita.
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14. Killer Cocktail

With: Amaretto, gin, Italian red bitter liqueur, passion fruit syrup, and lemon juice.
We say: A fruity, bittersweet sour.
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15. Madurised Old Fashioned Godfather

With: Bourbon, rye whiskey, blended scotch, amaretto, and madeira wine.
We say: An almond-flavoured Old-Fashioned with medium-dry madeira adding wine notes.
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16. Mai Tai (Difford's recipe)

With: Amaretto and eight other ingredients.
We say: Best described as an overly embellished Daiquiri, as befits a "Tiki" classic.
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17. Orange Brûlée

With: Amaretto, orange liqueur, brandy and cream.
We say: Creamy topped after-dinner indulgence.
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18. Petanque

With: Fino sherry, amaretto, Creole-style bitters, and absinthe.
We say: Fino sherry and amaretto blended harmoniously together with dashes of absinthe and bitters.
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19. Sweet Louise

With: Passion fruit, raspberry vodka, amaretto, black raspberry liqueur, lime juice, and grenadine syrup.
We say: Louise's sweetness is balanced by lime sourness with contrasting rich fruity flavours. Louise may lack poise, but she's flavoursome.
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20. Toasted Old Fashioned Godfather

With: Rye whiskey, bourbon, amaretto liqueur, and aromatic bitters.
We say: Rye whiskey spice and aromatic bitters offset bourbon's richness and amaretto's richness in this complex, dry and spirit-forward after-dinner cocktail.
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More amaretto cocktails

We've over a 150 Difford's Guide amaretto cocktails.