The Maker: Oak City Amaretto, made in Raleigh by Anthony Scalabrino, is the perfect example of how a hand-crafted liqueur returning to its roots produces a better tasting product than well-known imported products.
As with so many N.C. distillers, starting a distillery and producing spirits are passion projects. Scalabrino is an instructor for the Naval ROTC unit at N.C. State. He is a 2010 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned as a pilot.
Origins: Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno, Italy. Many Italian families have their own recipes for making liqueurs at home.
When Scalabrino’s great-grandparents emigrated to the U.S. from Italy, they brought the recipe with them. However, the family recipe is just part of the story. Oak City Amaretto began with this original Sicilian amaretto recipe, and it was enhanced by using only natural and U.S.-sourced ingredients.
Flavor: Oak City Amaretto is smooth, nutty and with a beautiful balance of slight bitter and sweet. It’s perfect neat, over ice, or even over ice cream. If you have a favorite cocktail that calls for amaretto, this is a must try.
