Amaretto Sour recipe
Amaretto, lemon juice (freshly squeezed), Angostura bitters and egg white, shaken and strained into an Old Fashioned glass, garnished with maraschino cherries.
By Kris Barton · Updated - 2 mins total
- 5 ingredients
- Old Fashioned glass
What Ingredients do you need to make an Amaretto Sour?
Amaretto
Amaretto (Italian for ‘a little bitter’) is a sweet Liqueur that originated in Saronno (a commune in Lombardy, Italy).
Depending on the brand, Amaretto can be made from a variety of ingredients including apricot kernels, peach stones, bitter almonds, or just regular almonds. The key is that all of these ingredients contain benzaldehyde which acts as the almond-like flavour of the liqueur.
Amaretto usually contains between 21 to 28 per cent alcohol by volume.
For Amaretto, we recommend:
Angostura Bitters
Angostura bitters is a concentrated bitters (aka a herbal alcoholic preparation) based on gentian (a plant with a bitter root), herbs, and spices.
It’s produced by the House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago and is called Angostura as it was created in the town of Angostura in Venezuela.
Angostura Bitters are typically used for flavouring drinks, and the House of Angostura also makes orange bitters.
For Angostura Bitters, we recommend:
Cocktails with Angostura Bitters
Maraschino Cherries
Maraschino Cherries are preserved, sweetened cherries that are regularly used as a garnish in a variety of different cocktails.
In short, they can make a cocktail pop.
For Maraschino Cherries, we recommend:
What Equipment do you need to make an Amaretto Sour?
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bond says “shaken, not stirred”. And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed cocktail shaker comparison.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
Old Fashioned Glass
Old Fashioned Glasses give a cocktail a classic, retro, yet elegant look.
If you’re making an old school cocktail, then this is the glass you absolutely need.
For Old Fashioned Glasses, we recommend:
Hawthorne Strainer
If you (or perhaps the person you’re buying for) don’t have a Hawthorne strainer as part of a cocktail shaker set, it’s a great, and incredibly useful, addition to your cocktail toolbox.
The strainer is typically used to remove the ice (or any other unwanted solid ingredients) from your cocktail as it’s poured from the cocktail shaker into your glass.
For a Hawthorne Strainer, we recommend:
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Recipe card
Amaretto Sour
- Prep
- 1 min
- Making
- 1 min
- Total
- 2 mins
- Serves
- 1
- Glass
- Old Fashioned glass
Ingredients
Makes 1 drink.
Method
- Add your amaretto, lemon juice, Angostura bitters, and egg whites to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake for 15 seconds.
- Add ice and then shake again until well chilled.
- Add ice to an Old Fashioned glass.
- Use a Hawthorne strainer to strain your mix into the glass.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries.
Want more like this? Browse our full collection of classic cocktails.
Amaretto Sour FAQs
What Ingredients do you need to make an Amaretto Sour?
To make an Amaretto Sour, you need 60ml / 2oz amaretto, 30ml / 1oz lemon juice (freshly squeezed), 1 dash Angostura bitters and 15ml / 0.5oz egg white, plus maraschino cherries to garnish. There’s more about amaretto, Angostura bitters and maraschino cherries above.
What Equipment do you need to make an Amaretto Sour?
You’ll need a cocktail shaker, an Old Fashioned glass and a Hawthorne strainer.
What alcohol is in an Amaretto Sour?
The only alcohol in an Amaretto Sour is amaretto: 60ml / 2oz.
Is an Amaretto Sour shaken or stirred?
An Amaretto Sour is shaken. Shake it with ice in a cocktail shaker, then strain it into an Old Fashioned glass.
Can I make an Amaretto Sour without a cocktail shaker?
A cocktail shaker is best, but a clean jam jar with a tight lid works too. Add ice and the ingredients, screw the lid on and shake hard for 10 to 15 seconds, then strain it into your glass through a small sieve.
What glass is an Amaretto Sour served in?
Serve an Amaretto Sour in an Old Fashioned glass.
How do you garnish an Amaretto Sour?
Garnish an Amaretto Sour with maraschino cherries.
How do I make an Amaretto Sour for a group?
The recipe makes one drink. Multiply every measure by the number of drinks you want: for 4, you’d need 240ml amaretto, 120ml lemon juice (freshly squeezed), 4 dashes Angostura bitters and 60ml egg white. Shake one or two drinks at a time, so there’s room in the shaker for the ice.
