The Amaretto Sour is delicious, refreshing, and definitely worth a revisit. It’s a little sweet, a little sour, and a little fizzy if you add a splash of soda.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Amaretto: A sweet Italian liqueur that tastes like almonds (aka maraschino cherries). Some popular brands include Disaronno, Lazzaroni, Luxardo, DeKuyper, and Bols.
- Simple syrup: Use store-bought or combine equal parts granulated sugar and water (i.e., 1 cup sugar plus 1 cup water) in a small saucepan. Cook gently over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat and let cool completely.
- Lemon-lime soda: Optional but recommended, especially if you love fizzy drinks. 7UP or Sprite are good choices, and diet sodas work too.
- Cherries: Dark and rich cocktail cherries, such as Luxardo brand, can be substituted for the maraschino cherries.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add amaretto, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Cover and shake vigorously until chilled, about 30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Top with soda, if using, and garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Big batch: To make a batch of 12 cocktails, in a large pitcher filled with ice, stir together 18 ounces (2 ¼ cups) amaretto, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) simple syrup, and 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) fresh lemon juice. Have ice, glassware, soda, and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
- No cocktail shaker: Find your biggest, sturdiest glass and fill it with ice. Add the drink ingredients, then stir with a long spoon to get it all mixed and chilled. Strain through a small mesh strainer or use a slotted spoon to keep the ice in the shaker as you pour the cocktail.
- Egg whites: Some versions of the drink include an egg white for silky body and foamy frothiness. If you want to try this, first give the ingredients a “dry shake” (without ice) to emulsify them. Then, add ice to the shaker and give everything a second shake to chill the cocktail.
- Amaretto Sour, up: After shaking, strain the cocktail into a chilled “up” glass or coupe. Garnish and drink.
- Whiskey Sour: A similar cocktail made with whiskey instead of Amaretto.
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Amaretto Sour
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur (3 tbsp, see note 1)
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice (2 tbsp)
- 1 ounce simple syrup (2 tbsp, see note 2)
- Lemon-lime soda optional (see note 3)
- Orange slice for garnish
- Maraschino cherry for garnish (see note 4)
Instructions
- In a martini shaker filled with ice, add amaretto, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake until chilled, about 30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top with soda if desired. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
Notes
- Amaretto: A sweet Italian liqueur that tastes like almonds (aka maraschino cherries). Some popular brands include Disaronno, Lazzaroni, Luxardo, DeKuyper, and Bols.
- Simple syrup: Use store-bought or combine equal parts granulated sugar and water (i.e., 1 cup sugar plus 1 cup water) in a small saucepan. Cook gently over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the syrup from the heat and let cool completely.
- Lemon-lime soda: Optional but recommended, especially if you love fizzy drinks. 7UP or Sprite are good choices, and diet sodas work too.
- Cherries: Dark and rich cocktail cherries, such as Luxardo brand, can be substituted for the maraschino cherries.
- Yield: This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Big batch: To make a batch of 12 cocktails, in a large pitcher filled with ice, stir together 18 ounces (2 ¼ cups) amaretto, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) simple syrup, and 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) fresh lemon juice. Have ice, glassware, soda, and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
- No cocktail shaker: Find your biggest, sturdiest glass and fill it with ice. Add the drink ingredients, then stir with a long spoon to get it all mixed and chilled. Strain through a small mesh strainer or use a slotted spoon to keep the ice in the shaker as you pour the cocktail.
- Egg whites: Some versions of the drink include an egg white for silky body and foamy frothiness. If you want to try this, first give the ingredients a “dry shake” (without ice) to emulsify them. Then, add ice to the shaker and give everything a second shake to chill the cocktail.
- Amaretto Sour, up: After shaking, strain the cocktail into a chilled “up” glass or coupe. Garnish and drink.
- Whiskey Sour: A similar cocktail made with whiskey instead of Amaretto.
Yes! Thank you for sharing! Definitely no egg whites! But I like mine with the addition of bourbon, oj and lime juice, instead of lemon lime soda! And lots of fruit garnish, of course! Colleen
Absolutely perfect!