not your momma’s meyer lemon amaretto sour

not your momma’s meyer lemon amaretto sour

Amaretto sours are one of those drinks with “origin unknown” stamped across their back side. I’ve never been able to decide whether this is because it’s a basic variation of a classic or if the inventor is ashamed and unwilling to take credit. Given that the amaretto sour was in my repertoire around the same time as long island ice teas (I admit, hanging my head in shame and in memory of hangovers past) it’s obvious that my palate was undeveloped at the time. That thing I drank, a combination of bottom shelf amaretto and sour mix from a soda gun, was more akin to a Jolly Rancher than an actual from scratch cocktail. Its only saving grace? Being considerabley safer to sip than a Long Island IT.

This amaretto sour is something else entirely. Meyer lemons, just a touch less sour than their less expensive and more ubiquitous cousins, don’t need any sweeteners beyond the amaretto. Why bother with the egg white and the bitters? Because amaretto and lemon juice are just two ingredients but add froth and flavor and you’ve got yourself an honest to goodness cocktail with a (please forgive me this descriptor) silky mouthfeel and a hint of bitterness and depth.

So cheers. Enjoy!

not your momma’s meyer lemon amaretto sour

ingredients

• 2 ounces amaretto of choice
• 1 ounce (approximate) fresh meyer lemon juice (the juice from one meyer lemon)
• 1/2 ounce egg white (optional, if it freaks you out, but that’s what makes it frothy and smooth)
• a few drops of bitters. I used the bitter housewife cardamom bitters because well, cardamom!
• ice to shake and ice to pour over

directions

1. combine amaretto, meyer lemon juice, and egg white in a shaker, shake until frothy
2. add ice, shake until cold
3. strain over ice and shake 5-20 drops of bitters over the top
4. garnish how ever you want or not at all. lemon slice? brandied cherry?

why egg whites? tasting table offers this

not your momma's meyer lemon amaretto sour

A delicious less sweet more interesting take on an amaretto sour.

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Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• 2 ounces amaretto of choice
• 1 ounce fresh meyer lemon juice (the juice from one meyer lemon) approximate
• 1/2 ounce egg white optional, if it freaks you out, but that’s what makes it frothy and smooth
• a few drops of bitters I used the bitter housewife cardamom bitters because well, cardamom!
• ice to shake and ice to pour over

Instructions

 

• combine amaretto, meyer lemon juice, and egg white in a shaker, shake until frothy
• add ice, shake until cold
• strain over ice and shake 5-20 drops of bitters over the top
• garnish how ever you want or not at all. lemon slice? brandied cherry?

Notes

small batch boozy cocktail cherries- better than maraschinos

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