Amaretto Sour Classic Cocktail Recipe

The Amaretto sour is a popular and classic cocktail and well drink. Ask for this drink in any bar or lounge. Or make it yourself at home with just a few simple ingredients.

The Amaretto Sour is made with Disarrono Amaretto, Simple Syrup, and Fresh Lemon juice. This drink has a sweet almond taste with a sour twist. The Amaretto Sour is a classic cocktail that has been around since the 1970’s. This drink was created with the Italian Amaretto and sweet and sour. Over the years the ingredients have changed as more people make this drink to suit their own tastes.

Below we have a few variations of the Amaretto Sour. We have a printable recipe available with a basic recipe for this drink.

Enjoy this sweet alcoholic drink. It is very easy to make at home.

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All you need is a very few simple ingredients, some ice and your cocktail shaker. Amaretto sours are typically served over ice or on the rocks.

Amaretto Sour Recipe:

Our recipe for this classic cocktail could NOT be easier. Almond liqueur, simple syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Garnish it with a slice of orange and put a cherry on top for fun. Viola! A simple and delicious after dinner drink or light cocktail for your guests.

Is the Amaretto Sour the Same as a Whiskey Sour?

Amaretto Sour and Whiskey Sours are not the same cocktail drink. Both drinks have a similar base of ingredients. The Amaretto sour and the whiskey sour use simple syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice for mixers. The whiskey sour does not contain Amaretto at all. It instead uses Bourbon as the main ingredient. This gives the two cocktails wildly different tastes. The whiskey sour has a traditional smooth bourbon taste, the Amaretto Sour has the sweet Almond and cherry flavor.

Is Amaretto a Whiskey?

Amaretto is not a whiskey. Amaretto is an Almond-Flavored Liqueur. A whiskey is a Liquor that is distilled from grains and aged in wood barrels. No flavoring is added to whiskey’s. The flavor comes from the barrel itself, any notes of cinnamon, almond, vanilla etc are from the barrel.

A liqueur is distilled from spirits and can contain added flavors or sweeteners. Liqueurs can come in multiple flavors and a variety of ABV (Alcohol by Volume). Most liqueurs are between 15-55% ABV while a traditional whiskey ranges anywhere from 20-75% ABV.

Does the Amaretto Sour get you drunk?

Any cocktail containing alcohol can get you drunk, even the amaretto sour. The Amaretto Sour has a lower ABV than other cocktails. The only spirit it contains is a Liqueur which are lower ABV. The Alcohol by Volume for Disaronno Amaretto is only 28% and It is 56 proof. If you are curious about how alcohol can get you drunk, we have a great post on Can Cocktails get you Drunk?

What can you mix with Amaretto?

Amaretto is a delicious and easy Liqueur to make mixed drinks with. The flavor base is almond, cherry, vanilla, with some spice to it. Here are a few of our favorite mixers to blend Amaretto with.

1. Brandy
2. Coffee
3. Kahlua
4. Baileys
5. Heavy Cream
6. RumChata
7. Vodka (flavored vodkas are great with Amaretto)
8. Whiskey
9. Rum
10. Sparkling Cider
11. Grenadine
12. Coke
13. Dr Pepper
14. Cream Soda
15. Root Beer

Ingredients:

• Almond liqueur
• Simple Syrup
• A fresh squeeze of Lemon

We really enjoy our amaretto sour just like this. REMEMBER The quality and freshness of ingredients will always affect your outcome.

This is so simple to make. No packaged sour mixes are necessary. Using a fresh lemon squeeze and a touch of simple syrup allows you to adjust the flavors as you wish.

Amaretto Liqueur:

We chose one of the two original Italian brands. The Disaronno Almond Liqueur is made by the The Reina family.

Their amaretto recipe has a long and venerable history including a family legend that claims first rights to the beginnings of this liqueur. It’s delicious but fairly spendy.

Disaronno Amaretto

The Disaronno Amaretto is an Italian Liqueur that has a 28% ABV. This Liqueur has distinct Almond and cherry notes, with a hint of orange zest. Disaronno continues to be one of the most popular options for Amaretto. This Liqueur has been a favorite among Amaretto sour lovers and is widely used in the United States. You can find this brand online and in many liquor stores. Disaronno is also available in other countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

Any almond liqueur will work in this recipe as long as it’s a decent quality.

I’m not so sure a homemade almond liqueur is a good idea for this drink recipe. However, I’m including a link to one for you. If you make your own almond liqueur tell us how it goes!

Here’s a homemade almond liqueur recipe by food.com if you want to give it a try.

Garnish:

• A fresh orange slice (in the glass or on the side as you prefer)
• One maraschino cherry on top

How to Make Amaretto Sour:

Here is your complete guide to constructing this yummy refresher. Please also watch our video for more information.

Variations:

There are MANY ways to change up this classic cocktail Recipe. We are giving the simplest and lightest version here. It makes a delicious and much cheaper way to enjoy a drink with your guests.

But if you’re looking for a bit more punch and froth we have a few ideas for you.

Here are a few ways to experiment with the Amaretto Sour Recipe.

• Add vanilla vodka one to one with the amaretto
• add bourbon Half amount to the Amaretto
• Add a half ounce or so of egg white in the shaker (Makes it frothy)
• The simple syrup is actually optional. (add it to taste)

Adding extra alcohol will also increase the kick of your cocktail. Remember to drink responsibly. These go down real easy. 🙂

Your Printable Recipe Card: