Amaretto Whiskey Sour

Name: Amaretto Whiskey Sour
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) amaretto; 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) bourbon whiskey; 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lemon juice; 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) simple syrup; 1 egg white (optional); For the garnish: Cocktail cherry or Luxardo cherry

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This amaretto whiskey sour blends Italian amaretto with warm bourbon for a delicious sour cocktail! Here’s my tested ratio, the dry shake trick for a silky foam topping, and the best whiskey to use.

Love a good whiskey sour and amaretto sour? Then here’s the next best thing: combine them and make an Amaretto Whiskey Sour! This drink uses both liquors to make something new and altogether delicious.

I’m a big fans of both drinks, so of course I love this one! It’s even more balanced in flavor, making magic with the nuttiness of the amaretto with the spicy vanilla notes of the bourbon. If you’re a sour fan: hold onto your hats!

5 Star Reader Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “What a delightful flavor! I’d never think to combine whiskey and amaretto. Love going on a cocktail journey with your recipes, they are always really good and not difficult to make. I couldn’t bring myself to add the egg white but it was still delicious!” -Paula

What’s In An Amaretto Whiskey Sour

This Amaretto Whiskey Sour is a combination of two classic drinks. The Whiskey Sour is an iconic drink that goes back centuries: the earliest mention of the drink was in the 1870’s. The Amaretto Sour is a very popular spin on the whiskey sour using Italian amaretto liqueur. This recipe simply adds bourbon to make an entirely new drink! Here’s what you’ll need:

Amaretto: Italian almond-flavored liqueur, sweet with a bitter finish. Read more below.
Bourbon whiskey: Any bottle will do; I like a good mid-priced whiskey.
Fresh lemon juice: Always juice a fresh lemon; bottled juice makes a flat-tasting drink.
Simple syrup: Just a hint balances the flavors. Here’s how to make simple syrup at home.
Egg white. Optional, but read the next section before skipping it.
Cocktail cherry for garnish; I like using a Luxardo cherry here

Egg White: Optional, But Classic

Now, you don’t have to make an amaretto whiskey sour with an egg white: but we highly recommend it! Bartenders have been adding egg whites to cocktails since the 1860’s. The texture and flavor that an egg white adds can’t be beat! Why? Two things; an egg white adds:

Frothy texture to the surface of the drink, making it more fun to drink
A creamy rich flavor, making it taste more delicious

If you’re worried about the safety of raw egg whites in cocktails, the risk of salmonella is very low. In fact: melons, salad, and peanuts, have more of a threat for salmonella than eggs! Here’s how to safely store and use eggs to minimize risk (via Food & Wine).

How To Make An Amaretto Whiskey Sour

The amaretto whiskey sour is just as easy as either of the two sour cocktails of its namesake. Here’s what to do:

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds without ice.
Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake again for 30 seconds.
Strain into a glass and garnish. Voila!

The technique above is a called a Dry Shake. The dry shake agitates the egg white in the cocktail shaker so that it forms the beautifully frothy foam topping. If you’re not using an egg white, you can skip the shaking without ice and just shake it up like a normal cocktail.

More About Amaretto

Amaretto is an almond liqueur that originates from Italy. It tastes both sweet and bitter (amaretto means in Italian “little bitter”). You may know the flavor from the popular amaretto cookies, a popular Italian sweet.

Interestingly, amaretto is made from the kernels inside the pits of stone fruit, like apricots. This gives it its distinctive bitter almond flavor.

It’s worth getting a bottle for your shelf: you can try more amaretto cocktails like the Italian Margarita, Godfather, Toasted Almond, or French Connection.

Best Whiskey For An Amaretto Whiskey Sour

You can use any type of whiskey for an amaretto whiskey sour! We prefer it with bourbon, but anything works! Our mantra is that a drink is only as high quality as the liquor. Try for something in the mid-priced range. However in this case, amaretto does help to cover over a sub-par whiskey: so it’s a drink where liquor quality is less important (versus something like an Old Fashioned).

Bourbon: Our top pick! The sweet flavor of bourbon whiskey is ideal
Jameson Irish whiskey: Jameson is very mild and makes for an even more balanced drink
Rye whiskey: If you’re a whiskey fan, you’ll enjoy the spicy finish of rye whiskey

More Sour Cocktails To Try

Try a classic Boston Sour or Whiskey Sour with Egg White
Float wine on top for a New York Sour
Vary the liquor with a Tequila Sour, Vodka Sour or Gin Sour
Opt for the Peruvian Pisco Sour
Add OJ for an Amaretto Stone Sour
Use Irish whiskey for a Jameson whiskey sour
Try it with lime juice for a Whiskey Sour with Lime
Make a big pitcher with Whiskey Sour Mix

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an amaretto whiskey sour taste like?

It tastes start and citrus forward, with a bitter almond finish. It tastes rounder than a standard whiskey sour, and less sweet than a standard amaretto sour.

What’s the difference between an amaretto sour and an amaretto whiskey sour?

An amaretto sour leads with amaretto and uses whiskey as an accent (or not at all). This version doubles the bourbon so the two liquors share the spotlight: it tastes drier and more balanced.

Can I make it without the egg white?

Yes. Skip the dry shake and shake once with ice for 30 seconds. It still tastes great!

Can I make a pitcher for a party?

Yes, but leave the egg white out. Multiply the amaretto, bourbon, lemon, and syrup, refrigerate, then shake individual portions with ice to order OR add 3 handfuls ice ice and strain into glasses.