Amaretto Sour
A silky nutty sour balanced with citrus and a touch of whiskey.
Base spirit
Amaretto
Style
Sour
Glassware
Coupe
The Amaretto Sour blends almond liqueur with citrus and froth for a richer, more structured sour than its reputation suggests. Modern versions add bourbon to tighten sweetness and give backbone without overshadowing amaretto’s marzipan character. Shaken with egg white, it pours pale and creamy with lifted aromatics. The drink’s transformation from a 1970s sugary highball into a balanced sour is one of the craft era’s most successful rehabilitations.
Ingredients
Servings
- • 1.5 oz amaretto
- • 0.5 oz bourbon
- • 1 oz lemon juice
- • 0.75 oz simple syrup
- • 1 egg white
- • Lemon twist
Did you know?
“Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s revamped spec revived the drink; PunchDrink notes that bartenders once dismissed it until his version restored its balance and prestige.”
Source:Imbibe; PunchDrink archives
Bartender's Note
Add a half-ounce of bourbon to keep the drink from becoming cloying.
How to make the Amaretto Sour
- 1Dry shake all ingredients.
- 2Add ice and shake hard.
- 3Fine strain into a coupe.
- 4Garnish with lemon twist.
