Did you know Friday, April 19 is National Amaretto Day? As if we needed more of a reason to indulge in a cocktail on the last day of the workweek! If you're kicking off the weekend by grabbing drinks at your favorite Valley restaurant, you might as well make it one of the five amaretto cocktails on this list, because these holidays exist to be celebrated, right?
Amaretto is an Italian liqueur made from apricot kernels, which results in a bitter almond flavor. In fact, the name comes from the word amaro, which is Italian for “bitter.” But there's nothing to be bitter about here, as the liqueur brings a sweet nutty almond flavor to cocktails, ranging from sours to manhattans and beyond.
Amaretto Sour
Thyme Rooftop Grille
One of Easton's newest hot spots, Thyme Rooftop Grille has an innovative bar menu that should not be missed. Their Pomegranate Drop, Botanical Gardenia and Port of Manhattan all come highly recommended via our April edition's restaurant review, but the Amaretto Sour deserves its flowers, too. Luxardo amaretto, lemon, lime, orange and simple syrup combine to elevate this classic cocktail.
Broad Street Manhattan
Edge Restaurant
Edge Restaurant's Broad Street Manhattan combines bourbon, amaretto, lemon juice and black cherry purée. Staying in this weekend? Not to worry—Edge shared this recipe with us back in 2021. Their bartender called it a perfect drink for someone who wouldn't normally order bourbon, describing the cocktail as a little sweet and a little tart with plenty of bourbon flavor.
Bourbon Peach Sour
Chop House at Wind Creek
Chop House at Wind Creek offers a modern, upscale twist to the classic American steakhouse, and their handcrafted cocktails are no exception. As the name suggests, this drink is concocted using Old Forester bourbon, amaretto, peach nectar and rhubarb egg white foam. Sounds like the perfect complement to one of the restaurant's USDA Prime or Wagyu steaks to us!
The Almond King
Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar
Amaretto takes center stage with Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar's cocktail, The Almond King. Combining Disaronno amaretto, lemon-infused Suntory Japanese whiskey, lemon, Aokage Shochu bitters, egg flip and grated almond, it's a must-try. Read more about the elevated Asian fusion happening in Allentown here.
Amaretto Sour
Alibi Bar and Lounge
The newest spot on this list, Alibi Bar and Lounge opened on Bethlehem's Southside in March. Described as a beacon of culinary and mixological excellence, Alibi's cocktail menu is divided into three sections: Spirit Forward, Fruit Driven and Applied Pastry. The Amaretto Sour falls under the last one, highlighting its almond, lemon and orange flavors. On their scale from Less Sweet to More Sweet, it leans on the sweeter side. The drink features a neutral column distillation and high ester rum blend, pressed lemon, French almond and rosewater syrup (Orgeat), and egg white.
