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Modern Amaretto Sour in a rocks glass with lemon twist and brandied cherries (AI-generated image)
AI-generated image
soursweetcitrus

Modern Amaretto Sour

The amaretto sour, grown up: a splash of high-proof bourbon cuts the almond sweetness, fresh lemon keeps it bright, and egg white gives it a thick, silky foam.

Time
5 min
Difficulty
Medium
Method
Shaken
Glass
Rocks glass

Ingredients

Servings

Garnish: Lemon twist (1), Brandied cherries (2)

How to make it

  1. 1

    Add the amaretto, bourbon, lemon juice, rich syrup and egg white to a shaker with no ice.

  2. 2

    Dry shake hard for 10–15 seconds to whip the egg white.

  3. 3

    Add ice and shake again for 10–12 seconds until well chilled.

  4. 4

    Double-strain through a fine strainer into a rocks glass over fresh ice.

  5. 5

    Garnish with a lemon twist and brandied cherries.

Swap it: Like it stronger and less sweet? Use up to 30 ml bourbon and 30 ml lemon. Use 15 ml aquafaba for a vegan foam. No rich syrup? Use 1½ teaspoons regular simple syrup.

Bar gear

Equipment for this drink

Tools you'll need

  • Cocktail shakerChills, mixes and dilutes shaken drinks in about 12 seconds. A two-piece Boston shaker is the bartender standard.
  • JiggerA double-sided measure so every drink comes out the same. Look for one marked in ½ and ¼ oz.
  • Hawthorne strainerThe spring-edged strainer that holds back ice when you pour from a shaker.
  • Fine-mesh strainerCatches ice chips, pulp and herb bits for a silky drink — used for double straining.
  • Citrus pressSqueezes fresh lemon and lime fast — fresh juice is the biggest upgrade you can make.
  • Y-peelerCuts wide citrus peels for twists and expressed oils with no bitter pith.

Recommended glassware

  • Rocks glassShort and sturdy — for spirit-forward drinks and sours over ice.

No shaker? A clean jar with a tight lid works. Build your home bar →

Recipe source: Liquor.com — Amaretto Sour. Quantities and basic method are factual. Description and steps are original Mixistry copy. Last updated 2026-10-11.

Contains alcohol. For adults of legal drinking age — please enjoy responsibly.

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