Lazzaroni Amaretto Liqueur

Rating: 20/23 This is the renowned, original amaretto! It's crafted with cookies containing apricot pits, not almonds, so I'm keen to see how it contrasts with the typical amaretto profile. I'm hoping this fills a gap that standard amaretto doesn't. This smells and tastes much like regular amaretto, with that distinct almond flavor dominating. There's a more pronounced fruity note, like apricot and peach, followed by a lingering vegetal, floral bitterness. It's very sweet, but less so than options like Disaronno (13/23). Disaronno offers a sweetness and richness that reminds me of doughnuts. This is considerably more complex. It's intriguing. It features many more spices and herbs. It's rich and full-bodied, yet cleaner and more intricate. It approaches amaro in its complexity. It's not extremely bitter, but some bitterness is present. This is sweet, yet well-balanced. While it contains a significant amount of sugar, there's a lot happening. For cocktails requiring a sweet liqueur, this shows great promise. It lacks Averna's bitterness (20/23), but is similarly complex. I'm detecting various fruity and floral notes mingled with a bitter nuttiness that has considerable depth. This is far superior to Disaronno. Its quality is much closer to Averna, though the comparison is challenging. I'd rate it at least a 17. I truly wish it didn't have a metal screw cap. Wow. This has so much going on. Even by itself, it's excellent. I would definitely choose this over having dessert. Frangelico (13/23) offers complexity closer to this than Disaronno does by a wide margin, but this is far less stale and unusual than Frangelico. Again, this easily earns a 17. I suspect it's higher. Frankly, the main drawback might be figuring out which cocktail to create with this that wouldn't overwhelm its complexity. Perhaps it's best enjoyed on its own. What a delightful liqueur. Revisiting this, it holds its own against Averna. They are quite different, but both are highly complex. I believe this is at most as good as Averna, but not significantly below it. My reasoning is that Averna excels in mixing, while this is more of a decadent after-dinner drink. This is a 19 or 20. It's exceptional and truly showcases the potential of the amaretto category beyond just being a mixer. Revisiting this, I'm considering a 20 or 21, so I'm settling on a 20. What a decadent, complex, and delightful liqueur!

Drawing inspiration from Lazzaroni almond cookies instead of the typical almond pits, I detect an additional flavor of eggs, reminiscent of meringue. It works effectively. It's slightly less sweet than other amarettos and enjoyable served neat or on ice as an aperitif. It doesn't perform as well in mixed drinks as more common brands, but is still acceptable in a Godfather at a 2-1 ratio.

I really wish I had discovered this place earlier. Used as a mixer in my amaretto sours, and wow! It was incredible. If you're doubtful, I'd suggest doing some research first. Then show your appreciation later. Cheers.

As if amaretto could not be improved, Lazzaroni has apparently perfected an already flawless recipe. It's excellent for mixing with coffee, drinking straight, or adding to your favorite whiskey for a Godfather.

Nose: cherry, shortbread cookie, gingerbread Taste: mirrors the palate with hints of milk chocolate A fantastic liqueur for the cost. It's excellent neat or in cocktails

A truly fine, refined Amaretto. It lacks the common cloying, sickly sweetness of typical liqueurs, offering depth and complexity instead.