Professional photograph of a Amaretto Sour cocktail with garnish in elegant bar setting

Ordinary Drink

Amaretto Sour

Der Amaretto Sour ist ein erfrischender Cocktail, der süßen Amaretto-Likör mit frischem Zitronensaft kombiniert. Diese harmonische Mischung aus süßen und sauren Aromen sorgt für ein ausgewogenes Geschmackserlebnis, das sowohl leicht als auch köstlich ist. Oft wird er mit einem Spritzer Soda und einer Kirsche garniert, was ihm eine ansprechende Präsentation verleiht.

  • süß
  • sauer
  • nussig
  • fruchtig
Leo
By LeoHome Bar SpecialistPublished Reviewed
Prep Time
5 min
Glass
Collins Glass
Difficulty
Intermediate
ABV
15%
Yields
1 serving
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Der Amaretto Sour ist ein klassischer ordinary drink, fertig in 5 Minuten. Das Ergebnis: ein süß and sauer Genuss, der jede Minute wert ist. Regelmäßig unter den Top-Suchanfragen für "Cocktailparty".

Key Takeaways

What you’ll learn

  • Jeffrey Morgenthaler revolutionized the Amaretto Sour in 2012 by adding cask-proof bourbon and egg white, transforming a dismissed 1970s relic into a craft classic.
  • The original recipe relied on artificial sour mix; the modern version uses fresh lemon juice, rich simple syrup, and high-proof bourbon for depth and balance.
  • Disaronno is the standard amaretto choice, but Lazzaroni offers a less sweet, more sophisticated alternative that shines in the Morgenthaler ratio.
  • The 2:1 ratio of amaretto to lemon juice creates perfect sweet-tart balance when cask-proof bourbon is added as a counterweight.
  • Egg white transforms the texture into a silky, foam-topped cocktail; aquafaba works as a vegan substitute with nearly identical results.

Ingredients

Serves
1 serving
Glass
Collins Glass
Prep
5 min
  • 1 1/2 ozAmaretto
  • 3 ozSour mix

Method

Preparation

  1. 01

    Schütteln und abseihen. Mit einer Kirsche und einer Orangenscheibe garnieren.

Origin

History & Origins

Few cocktails have experienced such a dramatic reputation reversal as the Amaretto Sour. Once relegated to the realm of cloyingly sweet 1970s relics, this Italian-American hybrid staged one of the most impressive comebacks in modern mixology. The transformation didn't happen by accident — it took Portland bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler to rescue the amaretto sour from obscurity and prove that with the right technique and proportions it deserves a place among the classics.

The Amaretto Sour emerged during the 1970s cocktail renaissance, when sweet, approachable drinks dominated bar menus across America. The original recipe was deceptively simple: amaretto liqueur, sour mix, and a cherry garnish. Its widespread use of artificial sour mix — a neon-yellow concoction of corn syrup, citric acid, and preservatives — turned what could have been a balanced cocktail into a tooth-achingly sweet disappointment. By the early 2000s, ordering an Amaretto Sour at a quality cocktail bar would likely earn a judgmental look.

Its widespread use of artificial sour mix — a neon-yellow concoction of corn syrup, citric acid, and preservatives — turned what could have been a balanced cocktail into a tooth-achingly sweet disappointment.

In 2012, Morgenthaler published his reimagined recipe while head bartender at Portland's acclaimed Clyde Common. His version added cask-proof bourbon for depth, replaced sour mix with fresh lemon juice and rich simple syrup, and incorporated egg white for silky texture. The result was a revelation — proof that the core concept was sound but the execution had been fundamentally flawed. Morgenthaler's version sparked a renaissance for the drink; bartenders who had previously dismissed it began experimenting with their own riffs, and today the upgraded Amaretto Sour appears on cocktail menus worldwide.

Bartender’s Insight

Pro Tips

Süße und Säure sorgfältig ausbalancieren

From Leo

  • ausschließlich frischen Zitronensaft verwenden

  • Eiweiß für richtige Textur und Mundgefühl hinzufügen

At the Table

Perfect Pairings

Zitronentart
Mandelkuchen
Gegrillter Fisch
Zitrusfrischkäsekuchen
Gewürzte Nüsse

Beyond the Classic

Variations

New York Sour Amaretto

Eine gehobene Variation mit Granatapfelsaft-Float für visuelles Drama

Amaretto Stone Sour

Eine Variation mit zusätzlichem Whisky für Tiefe

Würziger Amaretto Sour

Eine würzige Interpretation mit Zimt- und Nelkennoten

Watch

See it in action

Questions

Frequently Asked

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