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    Home » Classic Cocktails » The recipe for a perfect amaretto sour cocktail

    Published: Feb 23, 2022 · Modified: Dec 15, 2023 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    The recipe for a perfect amaretto sour cocktail

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy-to-mix 1970's classic sour cocktail is a perfect balance of sweet and sour. It is made using lemon juice and a wonderful Italian liqueur that dates back over 500 years!

    A classic amaretto sour cocktail in an old-fashioned glass with orange slice and cherry. This is the perfect amaretto sour recipe and a delicious sour drink. This is a perfect cocktail and one of the classic cocktail recipes.

    A Classic and Refreshing Sweet and Sour Cocktail

    The combination of sweet and sour has always been popular in food and cocktails. This Amaretto Sour is so easy to mix up and it tastes so good, it'll become your go-to happy hour cocktail for good reason.

    There's an entire category of cocktails called sours which include classics like the Whiskey Sour. In the early 1970's a creative bartender in America mixed a newly-popular, 500 year-old Italian liqueur with some lemon juice, and added this crowd-pleaser to the list of sours. Soon American bars everywhere were including this cocktail on their menus.

    Amaretto is a wonderful liqueur that is made from a secret blend of apricot pits and almond extract for a unique flavor profile. This is such a pleasant-tasting liqueur that you'll keep a bottle of Amaretto on your shelf once you taste this.

    Ingredients Needed for an Amaretto Sour

    The three main ingredients used to mix a sour, liqueur lemon and sugar. Add a maraschino cherry for garnish.

    There are only a few Ingredients needed for an Amaretto Sour:

    • Fresh, large ice cubes--preferably round
    • Sugar cubes
    • Fresh lemon juice
    • Amaretto liqueur--choose a quality liqueur like Amaretto di Saronno which has a nice almond taste and is readily available at your local grocery store or liquor store
    • Orange slices for garnish

    You can also use a plain simple syrup in place of the sugar cubes if you prefer.

    Bar tools needed

    You just need a few standard tools to mix this drink:

    • Jigger
    • Bar spoon
    • Knife
    • Muddler (or the back of a spoon)
    • Mixing glass or large cocktail shaker (if desired, I usually just mix directly in the glass and give it a stir with the bar spoon)

    How to Make it

    This drink is very easy to make. Just follow the 5 steps below:

    two pictures showing how to make a cocktail. The secret ingredient of the new recipes for these craft cocktails is amaretto. No need for homemade sour mix or lemon peels or sugar syrup. Just muddle your own!  Almond liqueur combined with part lemon juice. The best part is a couple of ounces of amaretto (your choice of brand of amaretto) for a cocktail that is a little bitter but on the sweeter side--better than a Pisco sour. Either way, your taste buds will thank you. Make a large batch for friends, they'll enjoy the sour element of this drink.
    1. Pour a dash of water into a glass containing your sugar cubes.
    2. Using a muddler, crush the cubes to mix with the water.
    three pictures showing how to make a cocktail
    1. Pour the water and sugar mixture over a ball of ice.
    2. Pour the Amaretto into the glass.
    3. Last, add the fresh-squeezed lemon juice for the sour flavor.
    4. Add an orange slice or for garnish.

    Give it a stir and add a decorative garnish, such as an orange wedge and cherry.

    Tips for Success

    Even though this Amaretto cocktail is one of the easy cocktails to make at home, keep these things in mind when making this classic recipe:

    • Always take the time to squeeze some fresh juice rather than use bottled. It will make the drink come alive with freshness and will not be overly sour.
    • Choose a quality liqueur to mix with. Inferior mixers will not have the nice almond flavor and can be too sweet.
    • Fresh ice is a must. Never use ice that has been in your freezer for a long time because it will pick up odors from other food over time.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is an Amaretto Sour the same as a Whiskey Sour?

    While the two cocktails are similar and both in the Sour family, they are still different cocktails. The Amaretto Sour uses a sweet, almond-flavored liqueur, and the Whiskey Sour uses a stronger tasting bourbon or rye.

    What can you mix with Amaretto?

    Amaretto is a sweet Amaro bitter that pairs nicely with vodka, rum or whiskey. It is also great to sip straight up after dinner -- with or without ice. Some people like to mix it with a bit of bourbon (although I find the addition of bourbon too sweet, I recommend using a rye instead). Others will splash in a little club soda or lemon-lime soda. You can also add a little orange juice or lime juice to balance out the sweetness.

    Try a Frothy Egg White Variation

    For a delicious cocktail, try adding an egg white like you would for a Whiskey Sour. It's pretty easy to do, just add your Amaretto, lemon juice and sugar mixture to a cocktail shaker, then add an egg white and shake for about 15 seconds. This is a dry shake. Then add a handful of fresh ice cubes to the shaker and shake for another 15 seconds. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain into an old fashioned glass (or your glass of choice) for a frothy top. Add a slice of orange or a couple of maraschino cherries for garnish. There are some people who are concerned about using a raw egg, but nowadays most eggs have been pasteurized, so the risk of getting sick is greatly reduced.

    Before you go, did you try this cocktail? Why not leave a comment in the comments section along with a rating? I always appreciate hearing from you and getting your feedback.

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    An amaretto sour cocktail in a small glass with orange slice and cherry

    Simple Amaretto Sour Cocktail

    This easy-to-mix 70's classic is a delicious blend of sweet and sour. It is made using a wonderful Italian liqueur that is over 500 years old!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 Cocktail
    Calories 143 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1½ ounces Amaretto Liqueur
    • 2 cubes Sugar
    • ½ ounce Freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 1 wedge Orange slice

    Instructions
     

    • Place the sugar cubes in a mixing glass
      2 cubes Sugar
    • Pour in a dash of cold water and muddle to crush the cubes
    • Place an ice ball in your small cocktail glass
    • Pour the sugar mixture into the cocktail glass
    • Pour the Amaretto into the cocktail glass
      1½ ounces Amaretto Liqueur
    • Pour the lemon juice into the cocktail glass
      ½ ounce Freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • Stir well to mix
    • Add orange slice and cherry as garnish, if desired
      1 wedge Orange slice

    Notes

    • Always choose a quality liqueur to mix with
    • Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice
    • You can substitute simple syrup for the sugar cubes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Amaretto, mid century cocktails, Sweet and Sour Coctails
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

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