19 April: Amaretto Day

It's National Amaretto Day. Here are some facts about Amaretto:

1. Amaretto is an Italian liqueur made from a base of Apricot pits, Almonds, or both.
2. The name derives from the Italian word amaro, meaning "bitter".
3. It is associated with romance, because amaro is similar to amore, meaning love.
4. It is said to have originated in 1525, when a church in Saronno, Italy, commissioned an artist called Bernardino Luini to paint frescoes in their church. The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, so it made sense to paint pictures of her - so he looked for a model. A young widowed innkeeper became his model and in most versions of the tale, his lover. She wanted to give him a gift, but couldn't afford very much. Being an innkeeper, she had a supply of booze, and came up with the idea of steeping apricot kernels in brandy, thus making the first ever amaretto.
5. The two main brands, Disaronno Originale and Lazzaroni, both claim this tale as their own.
6. Despite its almond taste, Disaronno Originale contains no actual nuts. The company claims its "originale" amaretto's "secret formula" is unchanged from 1525, and that it is "an infusion of "apricot kernel oil" with "absolute alcohol, burnt sugar, and the pure essence of seventeen selected herbs and fruits".
7. The popular Italian dessert, tiramisu, usually contains amaretto or amaretto flavouring.
8. A few shots of amaretto can be added to pancake batter for a richer flavour.
9. A 30ml serving of Amaretto contains 110 calories.
10. Cocktails made from Amaretto include: French Connection, Godfather, Godmother, Hurricane Jenny, Cuban Breeze and Lounge Lizard.