DIY Amaretto Sour

An Amaretto Sour is a titan among the sour drinks. This classic mixed cocktail hails from the drinks mentioned in the 1862 book “How To Mix Drinks” by Jerry Thomas. Since that time it has never truly fallen out of fashion. While it may not be the most robust drink on our list, its smooth and refreshing flavors are a real crowd-pleaser. Since this cocktail is made with Amaretto it’s on the sweeter end of drinks and is a solid first drink if you’re just being introduced to the world of spirits. 

Ingredients 

• Amaretto
• Simple Syrup
• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Orange - You’re only using this for garnish, so if you have half an orange left somewhere, or leftover slices from your lunch snack they’re fine! 
• Cherries - We recommend maraschino cherries, but any jar of cherries you prefer will do. 
• Sweet and Sour Mix - If you’re pressed for time, using a pre-made sweet and sour mix will cut out the need for simple syrup and lemon juice. The drink isn’t quite as good because you can’t balance the flavors as much. But if you have a brand you like then go for it! 
• Lemon-Lime Soda - This is 100% optional, but adds a fun and bubbly twist to this classic!

Making the perfect Amaretto Sour is a very personal thing. Some like theirs sweet, some like theirs extra sour, some swear by adding soda! The basics, however, are the same. To make the drink from scratch you can start off with the following:

• 1 and 1 / 2 ounces Amaretto
• Use Either
• 1 ounce of Simple Syrup
• 3 / 4 of an ounce of fresh Lemon Juice (eyeballing this is fine, it’s about half a squeezed lemon)
• Or
• 1 1 / 2 oz Sweet and Sour mix
• Orange Slice and Cherry for Garnish

Pour the Amaretto, simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Or you can sub out the simple syrup and lemon juice for sweet and sour mix. Share the mix well and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with your orange slice and cherry!

Of course, if you want the drink to be a little extra delicious, go ahead and add a splash of your lemon-lime soda to taste! For extra fun, freeze some cherries in advance to use as ice cubes for extra delicious flavor. If you find your drink too sweet or sour, just adjust the ratio of simple syrup to lemon juice.