Amaretto Sour Drink Recipe: Classic, Easy & Best Versions 2026 

An Amaretto Sour is a classic sweet-tart cocktail made with amaretto liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and a sweetener (simple syrup or sweet and sour mix), shaken with ice and sometimes topped with lemon-lime soda. It takes about 5 minutes to make, needs just three core ingredients, and delivers a smooth, nutty-citrus flavor that's perfect for entertaining.

What Is Amaretto, and Why Does It Work So Well in Cocktails?

Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur traditionally made from apricot kernels (not almonds, despite the almond-like flavor). It carries notes of brown sugar, marzipan, and a hint of cherry, which makes it naturally suited to pairing with bright citrus. Popular brands include Disaronno, Hiram Walker, and Amaretto di Amore.

Amaretto's rich, nutty sweetness is exactly what makes the sour format work. Lemon juice cuts through the sugar, while a touch of syrup rounds out the acidity, creating the balanced sweet-tart profile the drink is known for.

Why Is the Amaretto Sour Such a Popular Cocktail?

The Amaretto Sour remains popular because it checks every box: it's quick to make, requires minimal equipment, and is easy to customize.

• Simplicity: Just three core ingredients  amaretto, citrus, and a sweetener.
• Balance: Sweet almond notes meet tart lemon for a flavor that isn't cloying.
• Versatility: Equally at home at a dinner party, poker night, or solo nightcap.
• Customizable: Easily adjusted for sweetness, strength, or texture (hello, frothy egg white version).

Amaretto Sour Drink Ingredients

Before you start shaking, here's what you'll need for the classic version:

A tip worth stealing from experienced home bartenders: use fresh-squeezed lemon juice rather than bottled. Lemon juice oxidizes within about 30 minutes, so squeezing right before you shake preserves that bright, floral edge.

Best Amaretto Sour Recipe

This is the bar-style version, built for depth and texture, and finished with a silky egg-white foam.

Recipe at a Glance

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz amaretto liqueur
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white (or 20ml aquafaba for a vegan swap)
• Ice
• Garnish: orange slice or lemon peel, maraschino cherry

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice.
2. Dry-shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
3. Add ice and shake again for another 10–15 seconds until well-chilled.
4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
5. Garnish with a citrus twist and a cherry.

The dry-shake step is the detail most home recipes skip, but it's what creates that signature creamy foam on top. Skip the egg white entirely if you'd rather keep things simple  the drink still tastes great, just slightly thinner in texture.

Best Amaretto Sour Recipe (ML Measurements)

If you prefer metric measurements, here's the same bar-style recipe converted to milliliters.

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker (no ice yet).
2. Dry-shake for 15 seconds.
3. Add ice and shake again for 10–15 seconds.
4. Double-strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube.
5. Garnish with an expressed lemon peel or cherry.

Double-straining through a fine mesh strainer catches stray ice shards or lemon pulp, keeping that foam layer clean and intact.

Easy Amaretto Sour Recipe (ML Measurements)

For a faster, no-shaker-skills-required version using soda instead of egg white:

Instructions:

1. Combine amaretto, simple syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake, then strain into a glass filled with ice.
3. Top with lemon-lime soda.
4. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherries.

Simple Amaretto Sour Recipe (3 Ingredients)

For those who want the absolute minimum effort, this version swaps individual lemon juice and syrup for pre-made sweet and sour mix.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz amaretto liqueur
• 1 ½ oz sweet and sour mix
• Lemon-lime soda, to top

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Combine equal parts amaretto and sweet and sour mix.
3. Top with lemon-lime soda and enjoy.

This version runs sweeter and higher in calories (closer to 390–400 kcal per serving, depending on the mix used) since sweet and sour mix is typically more sugar-dense than fresh lemon juice and syrup.

How Do You Make a Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix?

A homemade sweet and sour mix gives you more control over sweetness than store-bought versions. Combine equal parts fresh lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup, then refrigerate. It keeps for about a week and works in any sour-style cocktail, not just this one.

How Do You Scale an Amaretto Sour Recipe for a Crowd?

To serve a group, multiply your ingredients by the number of guests while keeping a ratio of roughly 3 parts amaretto to 2 parts sour mix. Combine the amaretto and sour mix in a large pitcher ahead of time, then let guests top their own glass with soda just before drinking so it stays fizzy. Pair with salty snacks like pretzels or spiced crackers to balance the sweetness.

What Mistakes Ruin an Amaretto Sour?

The most common mistakes are using bottled sour mix instead of fresh lemon juice, skipping the dry-shake when using egg white, and over-sweetening an already-sweet amaretto. Taste your amaretto before adding syrup  if it leans sweet, cut back or skip the syrup entirely and add a touch more lemon juice instead.

Popular Amaretto Sour Variations

• Amaretto Stone Sour: Add a splash of orange juice for a fruitier profile.
• Godfather Sour (bourbon version): Add ¾ oz bourbon for oak and vanilla depth; use bourbon rather than Scotch, since bourbon's natural sweetness complements the almond notes.
• Amaretto Slushie: Blend with 2 ½ cups of ice for a frozen take.
• Vegan/Dairy-Free: Swap egg white for 20ml aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas).
• Mocktail: Use amaretto syrup instead of amaretto liqueur for a non-alcoholic version.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in an Amaretto Sour?
A classic Amaretto Sour made with amaretto, lemon juice, and simple syrup runs about 210–226 calories per serving. Versions made with sweet and sour mix can run higher, closer to 390–400 calories, due to added sugar content.

Can I make an Amaretto Sour without egg white?
Yes. Swap the egg white for 20ml of aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas). The foam will be slightly less stable, but the texture remains creamy and the flavor is unaffected.

What's the difference between an Amaretto Sour and a Whiskey Sour?
A Whiskey Sour uses whiskey as the base spirit with lemon juice and syrup. An Amaretto Sour replaces the whiskey with amaretto liqueur, giving it a sweeter, almond-forward flavor instead of an oaky one.

How long does an Amaretto Sour last if batched ahead?
A batched amaretto-and-sour-mix combination keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. Add the soda or egg-white component fresh, right before serving, to preserve fizz and foam texture.

What glass should I use for an Amaretto Sour?
A rocks glass (Old Fashioned glass) over a large ice cube is standard. It keeps the drink cold without excess dilution. A coupe glass works for a straight-up serve without ice.

Do I need a cocktail shaker to make this drink?
No. A lidded mason jar works just as well for shaking if you don't own a cocktail shaker.

Why do you dry-shake before adding ice?
Dry-shaking (shaking without ice first) emulsifies the egg white, building foam structure before the cold sets in. Skipping this step results in a thinner, less stable foam.

What's the best amaretto brand for this cocktail?
Disaronno and Hiram Walker are the two most commonly recommended brands, prized for a clean almond flavor that isn't overly artificial or cloying.

Can I prepare Amaretto Sour ingredients ahead of a party?
Yes. Pre-mix the amaretto and sour mix (without soda) in a pitcher up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Add soda or shake with egg white just before serving.

How do I keep my Amaretto Sour from getting watered down?
Make ice cubes using sour mix or orange juice instead of plain water. As the ice melts, it reinforces the drink's flavor rather than diluting it.