Amaretto Sour Recipe: How to Make a Smooth Almond-Flavoured Cocktail at Home

What Is an Amaretto Sour?

An Amaretto Sour is a classic sour-style cocktail made with amaretto liqueur and fresh lemon juice. It is usually shaken with ice and served in a rocks glass, often garnished with lemon and cherry.

Amaretto is an Italian liqueur known for its almond-like flavour. The flavour is sweet, nutty, slightly bitter, and aromatic. In an Amaretto Sour, lemon juice balances that sweetness and gives the drink a fresher finish.

A good Amaretto Sour should taste:

• Sweet but not syrupy
• Fresh from lemon juice
• Nutty and almond-like
• Smooth and balanced
• Lightly creamy if egg white is used

Amaretto Sour Recipe

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients

• 50ml amaretto liqueur
• 25ml fresh lemon juice
• 5ml sugar syrup
• 1 dash Angostura bitters, optional
• 15ml egg white, optional
• Ice cubes
• Lemon slice and cherry for garnish

Method

1. Add amaretto, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, bitters, and egg white into a cocktail shaker.
2. If using egg white, dry shake first without ice for about 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Add ice into the shaker.
4. Shake hard for another 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
5. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
6. Garnish with a lemon slice and cherry.
7. Serve immediately while cold and fresh.

If you prefer a simpler version, you can skip the egg white. The cocktail will be less creamy, but still fresh, sweet, and tangy.

For another benchmark recipe, you can also refer to the Difford’s Guide Amaretto Sour recipe, which uses amaretto, fresh lemon juice, bitters, and pasteurised egg white.

Quick Answer: How Do You Make an Amaretto Sour?

To make an Amaretto Sour, shake 50ml amaretto, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 5ml sugar syrup, and optional egg white with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with lemon and cherry.

Best Amaretto for Amaretto Sour

The most important ingredient in an Amaretto Sour is the amaretto liqueur. Since amaretto gives the drink its main flavour, choose one that tastes smooth, aromatic, and not overly artificial.

Choose an amaretto that is:

• Smooth and nutty
• Not too harsh
• Balanced between sweetness and bitterness
• Suitable for cocktails
• Authentic and properly sourced

You can browse liqueur options here: Liqueur Collection.

What Does Amaretto Taste Like?

Amaretto has a sweet, nutty, almond-like taste. It can also have notes of vanilla, apricot kernel, marzipan, and light bitterness depending on the brand.

Because amaretto is naturally sweet, an Amaretto Sour does not need much extra sugar. The lemon juice is important because it prevents the cocktail from becoming too heavy or syrupy.

For more background on the liqueur itself, Food & Wine explains that amaretto is known for its almond-like flavour and may be made with apricot kernels depending on the producer. You can read more here: Food & Wine guide to amaretto.

Fresh Lemon Juice or Bottled Lemon Juice?

Fresh lemon juice is strongly recommended for Amaretto Sour. Since the cocktail has only a few ingredients, bottled lemon juice can make the drink taste flat, sharp, or artificial.

Fresh lemon juice gives the cocktail better aroma, cleaner acidity, and a more natural sour balance.

Use fresh lemon juice if you want:

• Better citrus aroma
• Cleaner acidity
• A fresher cocktail
• Better balance against sweet amaretto

Should You Use Egg White in Amaretto Sour?

Egg white is optional. It does not add much flavour, but it gives the cocktail a smoother texture and a creamy foam top.

If you use egg white, dry shake the cocktail first without ice. Then add ice and shake again. This helps create better foam.

Use egg white if you want:

• A smoother mouthfeel
• A frothy foam top
• A more cocktail-bar style drink
• A softer lemon finish

Skip egg white if you want:

• A simpler recipe
• No raw egg ingredient
• A lighter texture
• Faster preparation

Food safety note: If using egg white, consider pasteurised egg white. Avoid raw egg white for young children, pregnant people, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system.

How to Make Amaretto Sour Less Sweet

Amaretto is already sweet, so one common mistake is adding too much sugar syrup. A good Amaretto Sour should be balanced, not syrupy.

To make it less sweet:

• Reduce or remove the sugar syrup
• Use more fresh lemon juice
• Add a dash of bitters
• Serve it over fresh ice
• Use a stronger modern variation with bourbon

Start with only 5ml sugar syrup. Then adjust only if your lemon juice is very sharp.

Modern Amaretto Sour with Bourbon

Some modern Amaretto Sour recipes add bourbon to reduce sweetness and add structure. This style is often linked to bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s modern version, which includes amaretto, cask-strength bourbon, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white.

You can view a version of this modern style on Difford’s Guide: Amaretto Sour by Jeffrey Morgenthaler.

Modern Bourbon Amaretto Sour Ingredients

• 45ml amaretto liqueur
• 20ml bourbon whiskey
• 30ml fresh lemon juice
• 5ml sugar syrup
• 15ml egg white, optional
• Ice cubes

This version tastes drier, stronger, and more complex than the classic amaretto-only version.

You can browse bourbon and whisky options here: Whisky Collection.

Amaretto Sour Taste Profile

An Amaretto Sour should be sweet, sour, nutty, and smooth. It should not taste like plain syrup, and it should not be aggressively sour.

A good Amaretto Sour should be:

• Cold
• Nutty
• Lightly sweet
• Fresh from lemon
• Smooth on the finish
• Frothy if egg white is used

If your Amaretto Sour tastes too sweet, add more lemon juice or bitters. If it tastes too sour, add a little more sugar syrup. If it tastes too flat, use fresher lemon juice and shake harder.

Amaretto Sour Variations

Once you understand the classic recipe, you can adjust the drink based on your preferred sweetness, strength, and texture.

Classic Amaretto Sour

Use amaretto, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and optional egg white. This is the easy home version.

Bourbon Amaretto Sour

Add bourbon for a stronger and drier cocktail. This gives more depth and prevents the drink from becoming too sweet.

Foamy Amaretto Sour

Use egg white and dry shake before shaking with ice. This creates a creamy foam top.

No-Egg Amaretto Sour

Skip the egg white. The drink will be lighter, clearer, and easier to prepare.

Bitters Amaretto Sour

Add one or two dashes of Angostura bitters to give the cocktail more aroma and balance.

What to Serve with Amaretto Sour

Amaretto Sour pairs well with desserts, roasted nuts, and savoury snacks. Its almond-like sweetness works especially well with chocolate, cream, and citrus-based food.

Good food pairings include:

• Dark chocolate
• Chocolate cake
• Tiramisu
• Almond biscotti
• Cheesecake
• Roasted almonds
• Salted nuts
• Cheese platter
• Orange tart

For home entertaining, serve Amaretto Sour as an after-dinner cocktail or dessert pairing drink.

Common Amaretto Sour Mistakes

1. Making it too sweet

Amaretto is already sweet. Use only a small amount of sugar syrup, or skip it if your amaretto is very sweet.

2. Using bottled lemon juice

Fresh lemon juice gives better balance and aroma. Bottled lemon juice can make the cocktail taste dull or artificial.

3. Not shaking hard enough

Shake hard with enough ice. This chills, dilutes, and blends the cocktail properly.

4. Skipping bitters when the drink tastes flat

A dash of bitters can help balance sweetness and add more depth.

5. Using egg white without dry shaking

If using egg white, dry shake first without ice. This helps create a smoother foam.

Where to Buy Amaretto and Liqueur for Amaretto Sour in Malaysia

If you want to make Amaretto Sour at home, the main bottle you need is amaretto liqueur. You may also want bourbon or whisky if you prefer the modern stronger version.

At Blue Ocean Wine House, you can shop authentic liqueur, whisky, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, cognac, wine, Champagne, and other alcoholic beverages online in Malaysia.

Explore related categories:

• Buy Liqueur Online in Malaysia
• Shop Whisky Online
• Shop Spirits Online
• Shop Rum Online
• Shop Gin Online
• Shop Wine Online

Note: Alcohol is only for non-Muslim customers aged 21 and above in Malaysia. Please drink responsibly. For general responsible drinking guidance, you can refer to DrinkIQ.

Frequently Asked Questions About Amaretto Sour

What alcohol is used in an Amaretto Sour?

An Amaretto Sour uses amaretto liqueur as the main alcohol. Some modern versions also add bourbon whiskey for more structure and a drier finish.

What does Amaretto Sour taste like?

Amaretto Sour tastes sweet, sour, nutty, and smooth. It has an almond-like flavour from amaretto and a fresh citrus balance from lemon juice.

Do you need egg white for Amaretto Sour?

No. Egg white is optional. It creates foam and a smoother texture, but the cocktail can still be made without it.

Can I make Amaretto Sour without sugar syrup?

Yes. Since amaretto is already sweet, you can reduce or skip sugar syrup if you prefer a sharper and less sweet cocktail.

Should Amaretto Sour be shaken or stirred?

Amaretto Sour should be shaken. Shaking blends the lemon juice and amaretto properly and creates foam if egg white is used.

What glass should I use for Amaretto Sour?

A rocks glass or old-fashioned glass is the best choice. Serve it over fresh ice with lemon and cherry garnish.

Can I add bourbon to Amaretto Sour?

Yes. Adding bourbon gives the cocktail more strength, structure, and dryness. It is a good option if you find the classic version too sweet.

Can I prepare Amaretto Sour in advance?

You can pre-measure the amaretto, lemon juice, and syrup, but shake the cocktail with ice only when serving. This keeps it cold, fresh, and properly diluted.

Final Takeaway

A great Amaretto Sour is sweet, sour, nutty, and balanced. Use good amaretto, fresh lemon juice, a small amount of sugar syrup, and optional egg white for foam. Shake hard, serve over ice, and garnish with lemon and cherry.

For a simple home version, start with 50ml amaretto, 25ml fresh lemon juice, and 5ml sugar syrup. If you want a stronger and less sweet version, add bourbon.

Ready to make your own Amaretto Sour? Shop liqueur, whisky, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, wine, Champagne, and other authentic alcoholic beverages online at Blue Ocean Wine House.