This Cherry Whiskey Amaretto Sour cocktail is made with bourbon whiskey, amaretto, and fresh cherries for a spin on both the classic whiskey sour and amaretto sour. This is such a good recipe that it remains one of my most viral recipe videos on TikTok.
Personally, I love classic sour cocktails – they’re one of my favorite styles of drinks. If you also love sour drinks, you should also check out my Negroni Sour, Midori Sour, or Chambord Sour. If you’re after more amaretto drinks, my Amaretto Fizz or Amaretto Spritz will be right up your alley.
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Why This Recipe Works
Flavor – The bourbon whiskey adds a touch of oak flavor that pairs perfectly with the fresh cherries and amaretto for a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and nutty. It’s a delicious refreshing drink that is great for just about any season!
Quick and easy recipe – It only takes a few simple ingredients and minutes to make a Cherry Whiskey Amaretto Sour.
Easily scalable – This cocktail can be just as easily made to serve 8 as it is to serve 1 of these drinks. (Measurements for a crowd are in the recipe notes.)
Ingredient Notes
Fresh cherries – You can use frozen pitted cherries if it isn’t cherry season when you’re making this drink. Also, Luxardo jarred cherries work well here too, but they are expensive. I would at least avoid the bright red, cheap maraschino cherries that taste like cough syrup.
Bourbon whiskey – You don’t have to use top-shelf whiskey, but you should use a whiskey that YOU enjoy. My favorite is always a bourbon-style whiskey.
Amaretto liqueur – I use Disaronno whenever I use amaretto as it doesn’t completely break the bank and tastes good.
Lemon juice – Fresh lemon juice will always taste the best. Lime juice would work well also. If you don’t have any fresh juices and you must use bottled juice, opt for 100% lemon juice that is not from concentrate.
Garnish – I used Luxardo cherries for my garnish. Again, avoid the bright red, cheap maraschino cherries if possible. Lemon slices are a good substitution, if you prefer that option.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 5: Add ice cubes to the shaker and shake until well chilled. Strain into an old fashioned glass filled with ice.
Step 6: Garnish with extra cherries (optional).
Tips
Want a sweeter cocktail? Feel free to add a bar spoon (or more!) of the cherry syrup from your cocktail cherries. If you don’t have any on hand, you can also use simple syrup or even maple syrup, which would play well with the bourbon and amaretto flavors.
If you like your sour cocktails to have a frothy top, just add an egg white after you’ve muddled those cherries, then shake without ice (called a “dry shake”). Then you’ll add ice and then shake it again until well chilled. I recommend using pasteurized egg whites from a carton when making egg white cocktails.
- If you want an egg-free or vegan option, replace the egg white with 2-3 tablespoons of aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas), or a cocktail foaming solution.
If you want a bitter element to create a wonderful balance of flavors, try throwing in a dash of bitters. Need a suggestion for bitters? Cherry bitters would be a good obvious choice, but almond bitters would also work nicely.
If you love this recipe and want another variation of another fruity, whiskey cocktail, try my Peach Bourbon Whiskey Smash or my Blackberry Bourbon Smash. It’s like the sunny, peachy cousin of this Cherry Amaretto Whiskey Sour, with a hint of basil for freshness. Or, for more of a twist on a whiskey sour, try my Whiskey Tonic.
FAQ
What is amaretto?
Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur that has a rich almond flavor (even though it’s often made from apricot pits!). Almond and cherry flavors are quite similar and complement each other very well, making it perfect for this cocktail.
Does whiskey normally go in an Amaretto Sour?
Not traditionally, no. This amaretto cocktail usually stars amaretto as the solo spirit. Amaretto sours often include not just a sweet liqueur but also simple syrup (or not-so-great tasting mass-produced sour mix), which can make it a bit of an overly sweet drink for some. The addition of bourbon whiskey gives the traditional cocktail a rich depth and a little warmth that balances with the amaretto’s sweetness beautifully.
What’s the difference between a Whiskey Sour and Amaretto Sour?
The main difference lies in the base spirit. Whiskey sours typically use bourbon as its primary spirit, paired with lemon juice and a sweetener. An Amaretto Sour, on the other hand, is based on amaretto, a sweet Italian almond-flavored liqueur, which makes it sweeter and less strong. Mixing whiskey and amaretto together in this recipe blends these two flavor profiles for a cocktail that is comforting, yet still sophisticated.
What whiskey is best for this cocktail?
A smooth bourbon is my go-to for this cocktail, which really makes a cherry bourbon sour. Its sweet and full-bodied nature compliments the nutty, sweet notes of amaretto perfectly. But, feel free to mix it up with a spicy rye whiskey or an Irish whiskey, if those are your jam.
Are whiskey-based sours strong?
They certainly can be! In this recipe, the cherries and lemon juice are the only non-spirit. Amaretto does have a lower ABV (alcohol by volume) than whiskey, which is usually 21-28%. Whiskey’s ABV is around 35-40%, sometimes higher.
Can I make a batch of cocktails for a crowd?
Yes, you can find the complete instructions and measurements to make 8 cocktails in the recipe notes below.
Can I make a batch in advance?
Yes, you can make a batch of Cherry Whiskey Sour cocktails up to 1 day in advance. You will muddle everything in a large pitcher and chill. Don’t add ice to the pitcher, instead pour over ice in the cocktail glass to prevent dilution. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving too.
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📖 Recipe
📖 Recipe
Cherry Whiskey Amaretto Sour
Ingredients
- 2-5 fresh cherries (or frozen or Luxardo)
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 1 ounce amaretto
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- Extra cherries for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add cherries, whiskey, amaretto, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.
- Muddle the cherries at the bottom of the cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.
- Top with extra cherries for garnish, if using.
Video
Notes
- For a sweeter cocktail, add a touch of cherry syrup from your cocktail cherries, simple syrup, or even maple syrup.
- For a frothy cocktail, add an egg white after you’ve muddled those cherries, then shake without ice, then again after adding ice to the shaker.
- I recommend using pasteurized egg whites from a carton.
- If you want an egg-free or vegan option, replace the egg white with 2-3 tablespoons of aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas), or a cocktail foaming solution.
- For more bitter flavor, add a few dashes of your favorite bitters.
- 15-25 fresh cherries (or frozen or Luxardo)
- 2 cups bourbon whiskey
- 1 cup amaretto
- ½ cup lemon juice
- Extra cherries for garnish, optional
Nutrition
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Lex
This was so good. I’d initially made a whiskey sour with just tart cherry juice, but it wasn’t quite working because it was too astringent and was missing something so I found this after doing some searching online. Adding amaretto did the trick and took it to a whole new level. Great cocktail!
Melissa
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Lex! You’re totally right – amaretto does such a great job of balancing out the cocktail 🙂
Molly
So yummy, super easy to make and tastes amazing! My husband who usually hates all things whiskey now says that this as his new favorite cocktail. Thanks so much!
Melissa
That’s awesome! Glad we could convert him to appreciate whiskey! 🙂
Michele McDonald
So simple but so good!! I used some super-fancy Amarena cherries, and OMG!
I look forward to using fresh cherries when in season. I imagine it’ll be a little less sweet. Thanks for the recipe! I love your site.
Melissa
I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing – it means a lot 🙂
Keith
Delicious
Melissa
So happy you enjoyed it, Keith!
Keith Kuhlman
Bada Bing cherries are a cheaper and delicious version of Luxardo
Felicia Kyles
This is so good! Let me start by saying I am a tequila drinker, never cared for whisky. Only tried this because I had everything on hand except the cherries. I ordered the Luxardo cherries from Amazon and a few short hours later, I had my new favorite cocktail!!
Melissa
Omg! That’s amazing, thanks so much for sharing. Glad I could change your mind on whiskey. This drink and my French 95 cocktail recipe tend to do that to people! And, aren’t Luxardo cherries the absolute best?!
Susan
Delicious! I made this tonight to test for a Presidents’ Day happy hour on Monday. I think it will be a hit! (Cherries for George Washington, see what I did there?)
Melissa
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it! I LOVE the cherries for Washington reference – that is amazing!