This amaretto sour recipe is an updated take on the classic cocktail. Easy to make with 5 ingredients, it’s nutty and bright, with a delicious foamy top.
This amaretto sour recipe is frothy, nutty, and bright. Easy to make with just 5 ingredients, it’s such a festive cocktail for Christmas or New Year’s Eve. The amaretto’s almond notes remind me of marzipan (or the almond extract I use in many of my favorite Christmas cookies). It feels perfect for the season.
When I was in college, I had a good friend who always ordered an amaretto sour when we went out. The first time I tried one was with her. I remember liking the nutty flavor but thinking it was too sweet for me.
I recently learned that there was a reason for that: the amaretto sour has evolved quite a bit over time. Originally developed in the 1970s, it consisted of just amaretto (an Italian almond-flavored liqueur), a little sugar, and lemon juice.
But as time went on, commercial sour mix replaced the lemon juice, sometimes with a splash of lemon lime soda too. No wonder I found my first amaretto sour too sweet!
In 2012, Portland bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler gave this cocktail a refresh, nixing the sour mix in favor of fresh lemon juice and adding cask-aged bourbon, rich simple syrup, and egg white to balance the drink.
Amaretto Sour Ingredients
This amaretto sour recipe is based on his. Instead of being overly sweet, it’s rich and nutty. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Amaretto, of course! Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that’s made with apricot stones or bitter almonds. It has a nutty flavor with notes of cherry and vanilla.
- Bourbon – The bourbon cuts the sweetness of the amaretto, adding oaky notes to this drink. Morgenthaler recommends using a higher-proof bourbon, but we typically use whatever we have on hand and always love the results. Our go-to brands are Bulleit and Woodford Reserve.
- Fresh lemon juice – It adds acidity. Use freshly squeezed for the best bright flavor!
- Maple syrup – My sweetener of choice in this drink. I think the maple flavor pairs beautifully with the almond-y amaretto. If you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute simple syrup instead.
- Egg white – It makes the cocktail rich and frothy.
Garnish your glass with a cocktail cherry and lemon twist!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make an Amaretto Sour
I make this amaretto sour cocktail in the same way I make a whiskey sour:
- Step 1: Dry Shake. A dry shake is when you shake the cocktail ingredients without ice. This step incorporates the egg white into the drink, creating its thick texture and foamy top.
- Step 2: Add ice. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake until chilled.
- Step 3: Strain and serve. Strain the cocktail into a glass (I use a rocks glass) filled with ice. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and lemon twist and serve!
Topped with a thick layer of foam, this cocktail feels so elegant and impressive. Jack and I love making it for holiday celebrations or cozy winter date nights at home. I hope you enjoy it too!
More Cocktail Recipes to Try
If you love this amaretto sour recipe, try one of these classic cocktails next:
Amaretto Sour
Serves 1
This amaretto sour cocktail is frothy, nutty, and bright. Easy to make with 5 ingredients, it’s one of our favorite cocktails to make during the holiday season and throughout the winter.
- 1½ ounces amaretto liqueur
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce bourbon
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ ounce egg white*
- Ice
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Prevent your screen from going dark
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Place the amaretto, lemon juice, bourbon, maple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds to incorporate the egg white, then add ice and shake until well chilled.
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Strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon twist and serve.
*Consuming raw egg white poses a small risk of illness.
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