Amaretto Day is just around the corner. It’s on April 19th, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate it with Amaretto Sour – one of the most popular Amaretto drinks in the world!
Contents
Simple Amaretto sour recipe
The Amaretto sour is an iconic drink with amaretto liqueur. It balances the sweet, almond-flavored liqueur of amaretto with the tartness of fresh lemon juice. Its recipe is super easy. You only need 2 ingredients: Amaretto liqueur and lemon juice.
The liqueur is sweet enough to balance the sourness of the lemon. In this recipe, I didn’t use sour mix which is a pre-made mixture that typically includes lemon juice and sugar. This will make the drink overly sweet.
This Amaretto sour drink is a flexible cocktail that can be enjoyed in many ways. You can have it on its own or with snacks, appetizers, or even as a dessert like spiced nuts, candied pecans, tiramisu, or grilled chicken or pork with a fruit glaze.
Here’s how to make Amaretto Sour:
Easy Amaretto Sour Recipe
Ingredients
Classic Amaretto Sour recipe
- 2 oz Amaretto
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Ice
- Maraschino cherry and/or orange slice for garnish optional
Amaretto Sour with sour mix
- 2 oz amaretto
- Ice
- Lemon wedge for garnish
- Maraschino cherry for garnish
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Classic recipe
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the Amaretto and fresh lemon juice
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and/or orange slice if desired.
- Serve and enjoy!
Recipe with sweet and sour mix
- In a small saucepan, combine equal parts fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice, granulated sugar, and water.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before transferring to a glass jar or bottle. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the 2 oz amaretto and 1 oz homemade sour mix to the shaker.
- Shake the mixture for about 15-20 seconds to chill the ingredients and combine them thoroughly.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and/or cherry if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Variations
Like other iconic cocktails, this drink has lots of variations. Here are some of them:
1. Amaretto Stone Sour: This variation combines amaretto with orange juice and a sour mix. To make it, simply mix equal parts of amaretto with orange juice and a sweet and sour mix.
2. Amaretto Sour with egg white: This version has a frothy and creamy texture with a froth sitting on top of the drink. To make this cocktail, add a pasteurized egg white into the cocktail shaker along with the other ingredients before shaking. If you go vegan, use aquafaba, the liquid left over from cooked chickpeas, instead of egg whites.
3. Virgin version is a non-alcoholic version. You can achieve this mocktail by mixing 1 oz of almond syrup or amaretto-flavored syrup with 1 oz of fresh orange or lemon juice and 1 oz of sour mix. Garnish with a lemon slice or cherry.
4. Liquor versions: Besides the Amaretto, you can add other liqueurs to the recipe:
- Bourbon: Combine equal parts bourbon and amaretto for a more balanced and complex flavor profile that retains the sweetness of the original.
- Whiskey: Includes whiskey along with amaretto, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
5. Recipe with grenadine: The grenadine, a pomegranate-flavored syrup, adds a sweet and fruity flavor to the drink. To make this drink, just combine amaretto liqueur, sweet sour mix, grenadine, and tart cherry juice.
6. Frozen Amaretto Sour: For a refreshing frozen treat, blend together 1 ½ oz of amaretto, 1 oz of fresh lemon juice, ½ oz of simple syrup, and 1 cup of ice until smooth.
7. Sprite version is made by mixing 2 oz amaretto, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, and Sprite (or any lemon-lime soda).
Pairing suggestions
1. Appetizer
The sweet and tangy profile of this Amaretto drink makes it an excellent companion to a variety of appetizers:
- Cheese platters: The cocktail’s sweetness complements both creamy and sharp cheeses
- Prosciutto-wrapped melon: The saltiness of the ham balances the drink’s sweetness
- Bruschetta: The acidity in the tomatoes echoes the lemon in the cocktail
- Stuffed mushrooms: Earthy flavors contrast nicely with the almond notes
2. Main course
Amaretto sour complements the flavor of the main courses. Some excellent pairings include:
| Main Course | Pairing Rationale |
| Grilled chicken with almond sauce | Enhances the almond flavors in both dish and drink |
| Pork tenderloin with cherry glaze | Complements the subtle cherry notes in Amaretto |
| Seared scallops with citrus butter | The cocktail’s acidity cuts through the richness |
| Vegetarian stir-fry with cashews | Nut flavors in both dish and drink create harmony |
3. Dessert
Amaretto makes it a natural companion to many desserts. When pairing Amaretto Sours with desserts, I recommend:
- Tiramisu: The almond notes complement the coffee flavors
- Almond biscotti: Enhances the nutty flavors in both cookie and cocktail
- Lemon tart: Echoes the citrus notes in the drink
- Dark chocolate truffles: The bitterness of the chocolate balances the cocktail’s sweetness
