Caffo S. Maria al Monte Amaretto

Caffo S. Maria al Monte Amaretto is produced by the Distilleria F.lli Caffo in Italy, a family house known for its herbal and almond liqueurs. This amaretto draws its almond character from bitter almonds and sweet apricot kernels, rounded with a blend of herbs and spices, and sits at a firm 30%, higher than many amarettos, which gives it more grip. In the traditional amaretto style, the almond note is built from kernel and nut rather than syrup.

The nose is sweet, spicy almond with a hint of fresh apricot and a subtle herbal complexity, and the palate is full bodied and rich, a gentle sweetness balanced by bitter almond and a light herbal spice, closing long and velvety. Behind the bar it is a nutty sweetener with body and a higher strength that holds up in a mix: it carries an Amaretto Sour, turns a Scotch into a Godfather, and rounds out coffee, cola or a Manhattan riff. The herbal edge gives it more depth than the sweeter amarettos. Serve it neat, over ice, or in the mix.