This amaretto bitter recipe is an up to date tackle the basic cocktail. Straightforward to make with 5 components, it is nutty and shiny, with a scrumptious foamy prime.

This amaretto bitter recipe is frothy, nutty, and shiny. Straightforward to make with simply 5 components, it’s such a festive cocktail for Christmas or New Yr’s Eve. The amaretto’s almond notes remind me of marzipan (or the almond extract I exploit in lots of my favourite Christmas cookies). It feels excellent for the season.

Once I was in faculty, I had a very good pal who all the time ordered an amaretto bitter once we went out. The primary time I attempted one was along with her. I keep in mind liking the nutty taste however considering it was too candy for me.
I just lately discovered that there was a motive for that: the amaretto bitter has advanced fairly a bit over time. Initially developed within the Seventies, it consisted of simply amaretto (an Italian almond-flavored liqueur), somewhat sugar, and lemon juice.
However as time went on, industrial bitter combine changed the lemon juice, generally with a splash of lemon lime soda too. No surprise I discovered my first amaretto bitter too candy!
In 2012, Portland bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler gave this cocktail a refresh, nixing the bitter combine in favor of recent lemon juice and including cask-aged bourbon, wealthy easy syrup, and egg white to stability the drink.
Amaretto Bitter Substances
This amaretto bitter recipe relies on his. As an alternative of being overly candy, it’s wealthy and nutty. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Amaretto, after all! Amaretto is a candy Italian liqueur that’s made with apricot stones or bitter almonds. It has a nutty taste with notes of cherry and vanilla.
- Bourbon – The bourbon cuts the sweetness of the amaretto, including oaky notes to this drink. Morgenthaler recommends utilizing a higher-proof bourbon, however we sometimes use no matter we’ve readily available and all the time love the outcomes. Our go-to manufacturers are Bulleit and Woodford Reserve.
- Recent lemon juice – It provides acidity. Use freshly squeezed for one of the best shiny taste!
- Maple syrup – My sweetener of alternative on this drink. I believe the maple taste pairs fantastically with the almond-y amaretto. In case you don’t have it readily available, you may substitute easy syrup as an alternative.
- Egg white – It makes the cocktail wealthy and frothy.
Garnish your glass with a cocktail cherry and lemon twist!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements beneath.

Find out how to Make an Amaretto Bitter
I make this amaretto bitter cocktail in the identical manner I make a whiskey bitter:
- Step 1: Dry Shake. A dry shake is once you shake the cocktail components with out ice. This step incorporates the egg white into the drink, creating its thick texture and foamy prime.
- Step 2: Add ice. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake till chilled.
- Step 3: Pressure and serve. Pressure the cocktail right into a glass (I exploit a rocks glass) crammed with ice. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and lemon twist and serve!
Topped with a thick layer of froth, this cocktail feels so elegant and spectacular. Jack and I like making it for vacation celebrations or cozy winter date nights at residence. I hope you take pleasure in it too!
Extra Cocktail Recipes to Attempt
In case you love this amaretto bitter recipe, strive certainly one of these basic cocktails subsequent:

Amaretto Bitter
Serves 1
This amaretto bitter cocktail is frothy, nutty, and shiny. Straightforward to make with 5 components, it is certainly one of our favourite cocktails to make in the course of the vacation season and all through the winter.
- 1½ ounces amaretto liqueur
- 1 ounce recent lemon juice
- ¾ ounce bourbon
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ ounce egg white*
- Ice
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
- Lemon twist, for garnish
Stop your display from going darkish
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Place the amaretto, lemon juice, bourbon, maple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 30 seconds to include the egg white, then add ice and shake till effectively chilled.
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Pressure right into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon twist and serve.
*Consuming uncooked egg white poses a small danger of sickness.
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