The Amaretto Sour deserves better than bottled sour mix. Fresh lemon gives the almond-like liqueur enough acidity to feel bright, while optional egg white creates the plush foam associated with a modern sour.
Balanced Amaretto Sour recipe
- 2 oz amaretto
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ¼ oz simple syrup, adjusted to taste
- ½ oz bourbon, optional but recommended for structure
- ½ oz egg white or pasteurized aquafaba, optional
- Lemon peel and cocktail cherry
- Add all ingredients to a shaker without ice.
- If using egg white or aquafaba, shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.
- Add ice and shake again until chilled.
- Double-strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass, or into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with lemon peel and a cherry.
The small measure of bourbon is optional, but it adds oak, proof and dryness, preventing the drink from tasting like sweetened almond candy. Browse liqueurs and bourbon for the core ingredients.
Why the recipe works
| Ingredient | Role |
|---|---|
| Amaretto | Sweet almond, stone-fruit and vanilla-like flavor |
| Lemon | Acidity and freshness |
| Bourbon | Strength, oak and spice |
| Egg white/aquafaba | Foam and silky texture |
| Simple syrup | Fine adjustment; often less is needed than expected |
How to adjust the drink
- Too sweet: reduce or omit the syrup and add a little more lemon.
- Too tart: add syrup in ¼-teaspoon increments rather than pouring freely.
- Too weak: include the bourbon or use a slightly larger measure.
- No foam: shake without ice first, then shake again with ice.
- Egg-free: use aquafaba or omit the foaming ingredient entirely.
Easy variations
- Spiced Amaretto Sour: add two dashes of aromatic bitters.
- Orange Amaretto Sour: add a small measure of orange liqueur and reduce syrup.
- Blackberry Amaretto Sour: muddle two berries before shaking and double-strain.
- Highball: omit egg white and top the finished drink with soda.
A simpler official-style version
Disaronno's official recipe uses 50ml Disaronno, 25ml fresh lemon juice and 5ml sugar syrup, with egg white optional. That is a useful lower-strength template. The bourbon-enhanced version above is more spirit-forward and less confectionary.
Explore the liqueur collection for amaretto and other cocktail modifiers.
Source
Official brand proportions were checked against the Disaronno Sour recipe.
