Amaretto Sour (Jeffrey Morgenthaler recipe)
A sour and balanced cocktail ∙ Dry shake ∙ 5 min ∙ 19.3% ABV ∙
The Amaretto Sour (Jeffrey Morgenthaler recipe) is amaretto and cask-proof bourbon shaken with lemon juice, demerara syrup, and egg white.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Dry shake (without ice) all ingredients: Amaretto liqueur 45 mlCask-strength bourbon 30 mlLemon juice 20 mlDemerara syrup 5 mlEgg white 10 ml
- Add ice and shake vigorously
- Fine strain into the old-fashioned glass filled with ice
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- The bourbon is the point here: a cask-proof, high-strength one keeps 45 ml of amaretto from turning cloying.
History
Bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Portland, Oregon, published the recipe on his own blog on February 9, 2012, under the title "I Make the Best Amaretto Sour in the World." During the early cocktail revival the Amaretto Sour, long made with liqueur and sour mix, was widely mocked and dismissed as unserious.
Morgenthaler set out to rehabilitate it, adding a measure of cask-proof bourbon for backbone and egg white for texture, and his drink is now often called a modern classic. It remains closely associated with his bar work at Clyde Common in Portland.
FAQ
What is in a Jeffrey Morgenthaler Amaretto Sour?
45 ml amaretto, 30 ml cask-proof bourbon, 20 ml lemon juice, 5 ml demerara syrup, and 10 ml egg white. The amaretto leads; the strong bourbon and the lemon cut its sweetness, and the egg white gives a foamy top.
Is an Amaretto Sour shaken or stirred?
Shaken, twice. Dry-shake everything without ice first to whip up the egg white, then add ice and shake hard to chill and dilute.
What makes Morgenthaler's version different from a classic Amaretto Sour?
He adds cask-proof bourbon and egg white. The classic Amaretto Sour was long just amaretto and sour mix; Morgenthaler's bourbon cuts the sweetness and the egg white gives a silky texture.
Can I make an Amaretto Sour without egg white?
Yes, but you lose the foam and the silky body. Aquafaba (chickpea brine) works as a vegan substitute in the same small quantity. Without either, the drink is thinner and the sweetness comes through sharper.
