- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- BeverageCocktailDrinking
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every April 19
- Holiday emoji:
- 🥃
National Amaretto Day lights up the calendar every April 19, inviting enthusiasts to celebrate one of Italy’s most cherished liqueurs. This almond-flavored delight, known for its versatility in cocktails and desserts, offers a unique blend of sweet and subtly bitter notes. Mix up a classic Amaretto Sour, bake with its distinct flavor, or simply enjoy it neat.
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Expected National Amaretto Day Deals
As National Amaretto Day approaches, expect liquor stores and online retailers to feature promotions on various amaretto brands. While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that brands like Disaronno, Lazzaroni, and Luxardo often offer discounts or cocktail kit bundles. Look for specials at major chains such as Total Wine & More and BevMo!, as well as online at Drizly. Restaurants and bars may also introduce limited-time amaretto-infused desserts or drink specials. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as April 19 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Amaretto Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalAmarettoDay. Share your favorite amaretto cocktail recipes or dessert creations in a quick, engaging video.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalAmarettoDay. Post a visually appealing photo of your amaretto drink or a dessert, highlighting its rich color and presentation.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalAmarettoDay. Ask your followers to share their go-to amaretto pairings or memories involving the liqueur.
National Amaretto Day Hero
Bernardino Luini
History of National Amaretto Day
An unforgettable, sophisticated fusion of the finest ingredients, amaretto provides the perfect spice for a lazy day. Enjoyed neat or used to spice up desserts, like ice cream, added to cake, cookies, pancake, fruits, or as sauce toppings, it, however, earns repute as a major ingredient for cocktails, namely the classic Amaretto Sour.
While Amaretto didn’t hit the United States until the 1960s (becoming hugely popular by the 1970s to even grab a seat as the second-most popular liquor in the 1980s in the United States), legend has its history interestingly carved out in the 16th century.
Although the certainty of amaretto’s true origin is somewhat shrouded in mystery, with two families laying claim to the popular liqueur. According to the more widely accepted legend, Amaretto traces its origin to Saronno, Italy. In 1525, the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie contracted Bernardino Luini, a student of the famed painter, sculptor, architect, and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, to paint a fresco — the Adoration of the Magi, including the Madonna of the Miracles. A beautiful widowed innkeeper served as his muse and the pair along the line had a thing and she decided to show her love by gifting Luini a special drink, a delicious treat made from apricot kernels soaked in brandy that would go down memory lane as the first-ever amaretto drink, handed down from generations. From Amaretto di Saronno Originale, shortened to Amaretto Disaronno, and Disaronno Originale in 2001 — although the company name has changed over the years, its distinct taste continues to win hearts over.
National Amaretto Day timeline
Almonds, a major ingredient of the Amaretto, traces its history back thousands of years in the western parts of Asia and China, rumored to be among the world's first domesticated trees — bitter and acidic, unlike what we have today.
The original version of the liqueur, somewhat bitter as compared with today's, is created by a young widow who poses for Bernardino Luini, an artist from Leonardo da Vinci's School of art.
In the second legend, a young Lazzaroni couple seek a worthy gift for the Cardinal of Milan who honors them with his presence in their home, and they come up with their famous amaretti cookies, also known as Amaretti Di Saronno.
After a member of the Reina family discovers the long-lost recipe in the 1600s, they commercialize it.
Many thanks to Disaronno's marketing campaign, the love for amaretto spreads across Europe and the U.S.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Amaretto Day
Local businesses can embrace National Amaretto Day by featuring the liqueur in creative ways. Restaurants and bakeries can offer amaretto-infused desserts like tiramisu or cheesecake, or special amaretto biscotti. Bars and cafes can craft unique amaretto cocktail menus, perhaps with a flight of different amaretto sours, or offer amaretto-spiked coffee drinks. Retailers might create gift baskets featuring amaretto alongside gourmet chocolates or coffee beans, encouraging customers to explore its versatility.
National Amaretto Day FAQs
When is National Amaretto Day?
In 2027, National Amaretto Day is observed on Monday, April 19, bringing the celebration to the start of the week. Consider an amaretto-infused treat to brighten your Monday or plan a special evening drink.
How is amaretto made?
The production of amaretto involves macerating the flavor-imparting ingredients, like apricot kernels, in a neutral spirit, followed by distillation and sweetening. While almond is the dominant flavor, true amaretto often derives its taste from stone fruit pits, not necessarily almonds themselves.
What are popular amaretto cocktails?
Beyond the classic Amaretto Sour, the liqueur shines in drinks like the Toasted Almond, which combines amaretto, coffee liqueur, and cream. It’s also a fantastic addition to coffee or hot chocolate, adding a warm, nutty depth to these beverages.
What does 'amaretto' mean?
In Italian, ‘amaro’ describes a category of bitter herbal liqueurs. ‘Amaretto’ implies a ‘small bitter’ or ‘gentle bitter,’ perfectly capturing the liqueur’s profile where the bitterness is a nuanced counterpoint to its rich, sweet almond characteristics.
National Amaretto Day Activities
Treat yourself to an amaretto
Oh, so good! What better way to celebrate this delicious holiday than reveling in the unique taste of the world-famous Italian liqueur? Offering an array of exciting options from cocktails to baking, coffee, desserts, an amaretto treat will never bore you.
Whip up your very own
Don't fret; there's nothing to it! This homemade treat is absolutely delicious and easy to pull off. You could try out the classic amaretto sour cocktail: mix 1 1/2 ounces of amaretto, 3/4 fresh lemon juice, 1 ounce of simple syrup, 1 egg white in a cocktail shaker or blender, with ice, strain, garnished with cherries, and serve chilled.
Celebrate with #NationalAmarettoDay
It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate the amaretto treat, which has delighted taste buds across the world, leaving us with sweet sweet memories. Join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #NationalAmarettoDay and make the day count.
5 Super Awesome Facts About Amaretto
Amaretto contradicts itself
The name is derived from the Italian ‘amaro,’ which means “bitter, from the almond flavor,” although the liqueur is sweet.
Amaretto weighs high on the calorie scale
Said to be mostly carbohydrate with a hint of vitamins and minerals and consumed as an after-dinner treat, an ounce of amaretto has 110 calories, so you're advised to consume in moderation.
Disaronno Originale Amaretto cost $30
To enjoy one of the world's most preferred liquors with its distinct almond flavor, an average of $30 will do.
The world's most expensive liquor
Luxury and cheap are never synonymous, and the D'Amalfi Limoncello Supreme liquor valued at £27,000,000.00 is proof — the neck of the bottle features three single, thirteen-carat diamonds and the rarest of diamonds, 18.5 carats.
It comes with loads of benefits
Amaretto, when consumed in moderation, is said to help lower stress and anxiety as well as reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Why We Love National Amaretto Day
It comes with a world of goodness
Used to spice many meals with its strong flavor, including ice cream, brownies, coffee, cheesecake, and chocolate chips. The rich taste of almonds in amaretto, often employed as a cocktail mixer, helps to transform an otherwise bland meal into an instant winner
It reminds us to take our health seriously
Although high in calories, this bittersweet liquor is rumored to help lower the risk of stroke, as well as reduce anxiety. With its bitter taste, it sounds off a warning about too much sweetness and the accompanying headaches, often linked to obesity and heart disease, among other dangerous health issues.
It's the perfect after-dinner treat
National Amaretto Day presents the perfect opportunity to explore the wonders of this versatile liqueur that can be used in a variety of delights as well as gives a hint to the classic Italian dessert Tiramisu.
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