20 best Amaretto cocktails

The bittersweet almond and vanilla flavour of amaretto mixes brilliantly with dark spirits – particularly whiskey but this versatile liqueur also mixes well with a wide range of white spirits – vodka obviously but also the likes of tequila and gin, the Marsala Martini being a brilliant example.

Amaro-etti Biscotti
With: Cognac, amaretto, amaro, vanilla bitters and Islay malt whisky.
We say: Perhaps not biscuity but inspired by biscotti.

Amaretto Sour (by Jeffrey Morgenthaler)
With: Amaretto, bourbon, lemon juice and egg white.
We say: An Amaretto Sour but with a slug of bourbon providing backbone.

Añejo Almond Old Fashioned
With: Añejo tequila, amaretto, agave syrup, and orange bitters.
We say: Añejo tequila has notes of almond, here amplified by a splash of amaretto liqueur.

Almond Atholl Brose
With: Honey, Scotch whisky, oat milk, amaretto liqueur and cream.
We say: Forget porridge, start your day with a hearty Atholl Brose.

Bakewell Tart Sour
With: Cognac, amaretto, cherry syrup, lemon juice, and aromatic bitters.
We say: A name that perfectly sums up the cocktail.

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.

Don's Delight
With: Añejo tequila, bourbon, amaretto, lime juice, sugar and egg white.
We say: A tequila and bourbon amaretto sour.

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

Homely Smoke
With: Cognac, amaretto, Islay malt whisky, honey and Angostura bitters.
We say: Rich honey and almondy amaretto mellow peated Islay malt and cognac.

Ill Viaggio
With: Amaretto liqueur, rabarbaro and creole bitters.
We say: Looks like it should be stirred but is better shaken.

Italian Margarita
With: Tequila, amaretto, triple sec, and lime.
We say: Amaretto adds notes of apricot and almond to a classic Margarita.

Killer Cocktail
With: Amaretto, gin, Italian red bitter liqueur, passion fruit syrup, and lemon juice.
We say: A very fruity bittersweet sour.

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.

Marsala Martini
With: Gin, marsala, dry vermouth and amaretto.
We say: Marsala and amaretto briliantly enrich an otherwise dry martini.

Mezcal Jackson
With: Mezcal, amaretto, coconut rum and Abbot's bitters.
We say: Stirred down and strong - smoky almond and delicate coconut.

Madurised Old Fashioned Godfather
With: Bourbon whiskey, straight rye whiskey, blended scotch whisky, amaretto, and rainwater/Verdelho maderia.
We say: An almond Old Fashioned with madeira wine adding the "madurised" notes.

Orange Brûlée
With: Amaretto, orange liqueur, cognac and cream.
We say: Creamy topped after-dinner indulgence.

Petanque
With: Fino sherry, amaretto, creole bitters and absinthe.
We say: The name may be French but the key ingredients are Spanish and Italian.

Raspberry Frangipane Spritz
With: Prosecco, crème de framboise, amaretto, vanilla schnapps, coconut liqueur, butterscotch liqueur and soda water.
We say: An alcoholic alternative to the classic Italian dessert.

Viellille Place
With: Bourbon, cognac, gentian liqueur, dry vermouth, amaretto, sugar, creole bitters and aromatic bitters.
We say: Reminiscent of an old-fashioned but with the option to enjoy as an aperitif.

More amaretto cocktails

We've nearly 300 amaretto cocktails on Difford's Guide.