Amaretto Sour — Morgenthaler version
Amaretto sweetness is reinforced by cask-proof bourbon, framed by lemon and softened texturally by egg white.
Named source specification · 1 reference serve.
Glassware
Technique
Ice
Garnish
Preparation effort
Ingredients & measurements
| Ingredient | mL | US fl oz | Source measure / qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| amaretto | 44.36 | 1.5 | 1 1/2 ounces amaretto |
| cask-proof bourbon | 22.18 | 0.75 | 3/4 ounce cask-proof bourbon |
| lemon juice | 29.57 | 1 | 1 ounce lemon juice |
| 1 teaspoon rich simple syrup (2:1) | — | — | 1 teaspoon rich simple syrup (2:1) |
| egg white | 14.79 | 0.5 | 1/2 ounce egg white |
Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.
How to make it
Aerate without ice, then shake with ice. Strain onto fresh ice. Use pasteurized egg white for service.
Glass: Old-fashioned glass. Ice: Fresh cubes unless otherwise stated. Garnish: Lemon peel and brandied cherries, optional.
Flavor & balance
- Sour (Acidic) (dominant): Citrus contributes the principal tart edge; fruit ripeness and juice yield affect balance.
- Sweet (dominant): Sweeteners, fruit or sweetened modifiers round the attack and add weight; product sugar varies.
Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.
Preparation & batching
Service complexity: high. Batchability: spirit components only.
- Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
- Prepare or select the named syrup; record its concentration and follow its storage instructions.
- Prepare and measure fresh fruit components for the service plan; do not assume a fruit count guarantees a juice volume.
- Use pasteurized egg ingredients and follow the approved cold-holding and allergen procedure; alcohol is not a sanitizing step.
Finish aeration and texture to order; do not infer a safe storage period from the alcohol content. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.
Ingredient checks: Egg: present; use pasteurized ingredients under the bar’s approved procedure. Amaretto ingredients vary; almond flavor alone does not prove almond content. Check the selected product label. These checks are not a complete allergen declaration for every brand or garnish.
Spirit & ingredient choices
Recipe notes & variations
The creator published this bourbon-reinforced version in 2012. It is not the older amaretto-and-citrus-only formula. Ounce quantities are the calculation basis; the source’s metric display is rounded.
For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.
Compare: Gold Rush, New York Sour, Penicillin, Whiskey Sour.