Villa Massa Amaretto

Villa Massa Amaretto is an Italian almond liqueur from Villa Massa, the Sorrento house better known for its Amalfi limoncello. According to its own data this amaretto is made from almonds, set off by sweet spice, and bottled at 30% ABV. Amaretto's signature note traditionally comes from almonds or apricot kernels worked with burnt sugar, and here the house leans into a soft, full bodied southern Italian style.

The nose is intense and sweet with aromatic almonds, marzipan and a hint of vanilla, the palate soft, full bodied and harmonious with dominant almond, sweet spice and a light caramel note, and the finish long, velvety and pleasantly sweet with a nutty aftertaste. Behind the bar it brings sweetness, nutty body and a marzipan backbone, which makes it the heart of an Amaretto Sour, a Godfather alongside Scotch, or a French Connection with cognac. It also refines coffee, adding depth to an espresso or cappuccino. Serve it neat over ice to show its smoothness, or reach for it as a sweet, nutty modifier in stirred and shaken drinks.