A mad dog on a postmans nutsack! (Amaretto Disaronno)

Member Name: thehonesttruth

Product:	Amaretto Disaronno
Date:	05/10/07 (153 review reads)
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Ameretto was created in Saronno in Italy (hence the name), and although several other companies make Ameretto, it's still the Disaronno brand that is the best known and most highly regarded.

The tale starts in 1525 when a student at the Da Vinci School of art, Bernadino Luini was commissioned to paint a portrait of the Madonna (no, not the singing tart, the Virgin Mary!) Now, to paint a woman that many Christians regard as the model of morality, perfection, and kindness, this discerning painter knew he had to hunt down the perfect model.

After long weeks of searching, he found her (although sadly her name has been lost in history). She was perfect: beautiful, graceful, and patient enough to sit still with him for many hours while he painted her likeness.

For months they worked together, her patiently sitting in the same pose for hours, and him taking in every minute detail of her appearance and character and committing it to paper. Working so closely, never more than a few feet apart, the lady fell head over heels in love with our hero, and being an innkeeper, decided to show him her devotion by creating a sweet, warm, ambrosial nectar and presenting it to him. He loved it, he loved her, and they lived together happily ever after, painting and brewing alcohol until they popped their clogs.

That’s the story of the first ever bottle of Disarrono, Italy’s biggest selling liqueur, and the recipe has remained unchanged since that passionate romance all those years ago. The same natural ingredients that were used for that first bottle (apricot kernel oil, seventeen different herbs and fruits, and alcohol) are still used.

The most noticeable thing about this product is the packaging it comes in. A chunky, square decanter style affair fashioned out of beveled glass, it just screams quality, and demonstrates the passion the manufacturer put into the making of Ameretto. It's a clear bottle allowing you to view the rich tawny amber colour of the liqueur within. The stopper is a chunky, black plastic square with the Disaronno name embossed in gold upon it.

As far as I'm concerned, the best way to drink this is on the rocks, with nothing else to complicate the matter, although I do own that it's bloody gorgeous in a hot chocolate on a cold winter night. And surprisingly - mixing this with coke gives you - Cherry Coke! Work that one out!

We've already discussed colour, now lets discuss cling. I like my liqueurs to linger on my tastebuds so I get the full measure of the flavours. This, when poured into the glass and swirled, forms a film around the edge of the glass that does nut subside even when the glass is upright on a flat surface. Drinking it down has the same effect; the flavour grips onto your tastebuds like a mad dog on a postman’s nutsack, and refuses to let go.

Scent wise, the smell or almonds mixed with burnt sugar. It's strange that the predominant scent is almond though, considering the main ingredient is apricot kernel oil, but this sensual oddity carries over into the flavour as well.

On sipping, the flavours of almonds and caramelized sugar come together to pleasure the tastebuds. The rich texture provides a full flavour. Although there are seventeen additional herbs in the recipe, I can't detect any other flavours. Although it's high in alcohol, it's barely detectable, although it does give you a pleasantly warm sensation in the throat as you drink it.

It's available in most supermarkets and off licenses, and a 70cl bottle will set you back between £13 to £16 depending on where you buy it. I highly recommend you give it a try.

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