Classic Amaretto Sour Recipe
The amaretto sour dates back to the disco era, but the drink fell out of favor towards the end of the 20th century when bartenders started making it with store-bought sour mix. This product, despite its name, tends to be on the super-sweet side, but you won't find any of it in this classic version of the recipe.
- 2 ounces amaretto
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce egg white
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- Ice
- Dash of orange bitters
- Orange slice, for garnish
- Cherry, for garnish
- Add the amaretto to a cocktail shaker
- Add the lemon juice.
- Add the egg white.
- Add the simple syrup.
- Dry shake the cocktail for 15 seconds, until foamy.
- Add ice and shake again until the cocktail is chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass.
- Garnish the amaretto sour with a dash of bitters, an orange slice, and a cherry, and serve.
“The addition of egg white balances out the citrus and gives the drink a velvety finish.”
If presentation is half the fun for you, De Witt suggests serving this drink in a coupe glass. As she explains, "The elegant and retro design works perfectly to showcase this classic cocktail." For a stem-free alternative, however, you can also serve it in a rocks glass (with or without the rocks). With the iconic garnish of a slice of fresh orange and a cherry, you have a sophisticated take on a sweet-tart classic of the cocktail world.
Collect the ingredients for the classic amaretto sour
The drink is made from amaretto, lemon juice, an egg white, simple syrup, and a dash of bitters (De Witt likes to use orange bitters, but says the standard kind is okay, too.) You'll also need an orange slice and a cherry to decorate the drink as well as ice cubes to chill it.
