The Amaretto Sour has a bit of a reputation to shake off. For years it was a sickly, oversweet afterthought, all almond syrup and no balance. Done properly, though, it is one of the loveliest sours there is, warm and nutty from the amaretto, bright and sharp from fresh lemon, with a silky foam on top. It is proof that a good sour is all about balance.
I love this drink when it is made with care, and the difference is almost entirely down to fresh lemon and a proper shake. Here is how I build one, and why the egg white is worth the extra step.
What Is an Amaretto Sour?
An Amaretto Sour is a sweet-and-sour cocktail built on amaretto, an Italian almond liqueur, balanced with fresh lemon juice and a touch of sugar, shaken and served over ice. It belongs to the wider family of sours, the same template as a Whiskey Sour, but with amaretto standing in for the base spirit. It rose to fame in the 1970s and has been a crowd-pleaser ever since.
The amaretto brings a sweet, marzipan-like almond flavour, and the lemon is what stops that sweetness becoming cloying. A little egg white, though optional, gives the drink its signature soft foam and smooth texture. Some people add a splash of bourbon for backbone, but the amaretto-led version is the classic starting point.
Ingredients
This makes one Amaretto Sour. Use the card to scale it up when you are making a round for friends.
A Few Notes on the Ingredients
Amaretto is the whole personality of this drink, so the bottle you choose matters. A good one tastes of rich, rounded almond and marzipan rather than flat sweetness. Disaronno is the best known, but any quality amaretto works. A cheap, oversweet one is the fastest route to the sickly version this drink is trying to escape.
Fresh lemon juice is not negotiable. It is the single biggest factor in whether the drink is balanced or cloying. Bottled lemon juice tastes dull and flat and cannot cut through the amaretto the way fresh can, so squeeze it just before you shake.
Sugar syrup lets you fine-tune the balance. How much you need depends on how sweet your amaretto is, so start with a little and taste. Some amarettos are sweet enough that you can leave it out altogether.
Egg white is optional but transformative. It adds no flavour, but it gives the drink that glossy foam and a rounder, silkier texture that lifts it from good to properly special. If you would rather skip it, aquafaba, the water from a tin of chickpeas, does the same job without any egg.
Variations Worth Trying
- Bourbon Amaretto Sour: add a measure of bourbon for backbone and a more grown-up finish.
- Vegan version: use aquafaba in place of egg white for the same foam without the egg.
- Amaretto Whiskey Sour: split the base evenly between amaretto and whiskey for a drier drink.
- Fresh cherry finish: muddle a fresh cherry in before shaking for extra fruit depth.
Skip the Mixing
A properly made Amaretto Sour is a small joy, and it is well worth keeping amaretto and fresh lemons in for. It does take a shaker, a dry shake and a bit of technique though, which is not every evening. When you want something rich and easy with no kit at all, our Espresso Martini scratches a similar after-dinner itch, and the wider Boozy range is ready whenever you are.
Amaretto Sour FAQs
What is in an Amaretto Sour?
Amaretto, fresh lemon juice and a little sugar syrup, shaken and served over ice. Egg white and a dash of bitters are common optional additions for texture and depth.
Do you need egg white in an Amaretto Sour?
No, but it makes a real difference. It gives the drink a silky foam and a smoother texture. Aquafaba works just as well if you would rather avoid egg.
Is an Amaretto Sour very sweet?
It is naturally on the sweeter side because amaretto is sweet, but plenty of fresh lemon keeps it balanced. Getting that sweet-sour balance right is the whole art of the drink.
Can you make an Amaretto Sour without bourbon?
Yes. The classic amaretto-led version needs no bourbon at all. A bourbon split is a popular modern twist for a drier, stronger drink, but it is entirely optional.
What is the best amaretto for an Amaretto Sour?
A good quality amaretto such as Disaronno gives the best rounded almond flavour. Avoid the cheapest bottles, which can taste harshly sweet and artificial.
