Learn how to make the best Disaronno Sour cocktail recipe.

The classic and traditional Disaronno Sour recipe is made with Italian amaretto liqueur and is a popular staple at Christmas dinners and New Years Eve cocktail parties.

All you need to make this simple homemade Italian cocktail recipe is Disaronno Originale, Angostura bitters, fresh lemon juice, Maraschino cherries and ice.

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What Is Disaronno Amaretto?

Disaronno Originale is a type of amaretto, an amber-coloured liqueur featuring a unique almond aroma and taste. It is produced in Saronno in Italy’s Lombardy region. It is the world’s best known amaretto brand.

While the Italian aperitif smells and tastes like almonds, the liqueur is actually an infusion of apricot kernel oil with alcohol, burnt sugar, and the pure essence of 17 secretly selected herbs and fruits. Disaronno is a nut-free alcoholic product.

It was originally called Amaretto di Saronno until 2001, when it was rebranded as Disaronno Originale. The liqueur is sold in an oblong glass decanter designed by a craftsman from Murano.

For a long time the Italian company has promoted a legend surrounding the origins of amaretto, “In 1525, a Saronno church commissioned artist Bernardino Luini, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s pupils, to paint its sanctuary with frescoes. As the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Luini needed to depict the Madonna, but was in need of a model. He found his inspiration in a young widowed innkeeper. As a gift for him, the woman steeped apricot kernels in brandy, producing the first amaretto liqueur.”

Disaronno can be served straight up as a aperitif or digestif, on the rocks, or as part of a cocktail mixed with other alcoholic beverages, Coca-Cola, ginger ale, or fresh fruit juice. It may also be added to hot chocolate and is an ingredient in the Italian version of a boozy Irish coffee. Amaretto liqueur is also famously used in the Italian dessert Tiramisu.

Our favourite way to use amaretto is by shaking up a traditional Disaronno Sour cocktail.

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Travel to Italy to Sip a Traditional Disaronno Sour

There’s no better way to familiarize yourself with an authentic Disaronno Sour cocktail recipe then by planning a vacation to visit Italy.

While Disaronno was originally served as an aperitif in the north, Italy’s most popular liqueur is now enjoyed in drinks across the country and throughout Europe and North America.

If you’ve traveled to Italy before you’ll probably have developed a fondness for aperitivo hour. Aperitivo comes from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open.” Historically, an aperitivo was an alcoholic beverage consumed before dinner to whet your appetite. Today, it’s a daily ritual that embodies la dolce vita.

True to form, this daily routine exudes Italy’s quintessential style of slowing down, socializing, drinking, and, of course, eating. In Italy aperitivo hour starts every night from around 6-9 PM at local cafes, bars, hotels, and restaurants. Italians and tourists alike take part in drinks and snacks while they unwind and catch up with friends before their evening meal filled with polenta, pasta, short rib ragu, pici, gnocchi, pizza and gelato.

Classic Italian aperitifs like Campari, Aperol and Disaronno are served at aperitivo hour with a complimentary selection of snacks like olives, crackers, cured meat and cheese.

We suggest ordering an authentic Disaronno Amaretto Sour cocktail after sailing through the canals in Venice, luxury car hopping in Modena, tanning on the beach in Amalfi, visiting the Pantheon in Rome, exploring Italian Renaissance treasures in The Vatican, Armani and contemporary art shopping in Milan, touring the tower in Pisa, and enjoying a Honeymoon in Tuscany with stops in Siena, Sorano, Pitigliano, Saturnia, Volterra and Florence.

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Traditional Disaronno Sour cocktails feature amaretto, lemon juice, bitters, egg white and Maraschino cherries.

Best Bartender Tools & Cocktail Equipment

Before hosting a swanky Disaronno Sour cocktail soiree you’ll need to ensure you have the best bartender tools and cocktail equipment.

Cocktail Kit: cocktail kits are the perfect gift for newbie mixology fans as they include basic bartender tools like a jigger, shaker and spoon.
Cocktail Shaker: a bartenders best friend. Purchase a premium cocktail shaker to muddle or shake up your favourite pink gin cocktails.
Cocktail Glassware: make sure your bar is stocked with a selection of unique glassware to show off your favourite cocktail creations.
Hawthorne Strainer: this unique strainer features tightly wound coils and perforated holes. It keeps ice and other large ingredients like lime wedges in your cocktail shaker rather than in the glass.
Bar Spoons: slender and long bar spoons are a must-have when stirring drinks.
Bottle Opener: easily open bottles of beer or cider with the flick of your wrist or purchase a corkscrew for fine wine.
Pouring Spout: once you’ve opened a new bottle of gin insert these affordable pourers to make cocktail assembly a breeze.
Cutting Board: purchase a petite cutting board for your bar to slice garnishes or citrus wedges like lime, orange, lemon or grapefruit.
Ice Bucket: chill bottles of gin quickly in an ice bucket or keep by the bar when muddling gin mixers into cool creations.
Ice Crusher: fans of the Mint Julep love an ice crusher.
Ice Cube Kit: we suggest purchasing a selection of ice cube trays. Silicone styles are our favourite as they’re easy to clean and are available in various shapes and sizes.
Jigger: use a jigger to accurately measure spirits, juices, syrups and shrubs.
Juicer: invest in an electronic juicer or buy an affordable hand-held to easily juice fresh citrus like lemons and limes.
Muddler: fans of the Mojito love a sturdy muddler to mix mint and lime. Muddler’s are handy for any cocktail featuring ingredients that need a pounding like fresh herbs or citrus wedges.
Citrus Peeler & Zester: adorn your craft cocktails with a thick citrus peel or finer ribbons of lime or lemon zest.
Rimmer: Bloody Mary and Caesar lovers should outfit their bar with a handy rimmer for salting and sugaring glassware.

To make a homemade Disaronno Sour you'll need a shot glass, cocktail shaker, and rocks glass. — To make a homemade Disaronno Sour you’ll need a shot glass, cocktail shaker, and rocks glass.

Disaronno Sour Cocktail Ingredients

Our easy Disaronno Sour is made with the best quality ingredients:

Disaronno: Italy’s favourite amaretto liqueur.
Lemon Juice: we suggest using freshly squeezed lemon juice. Don’t you dare use the store bought stuff!
We’ve used Angostura Bitters in this classic recipe but you could also have fun by adding a hint of flavour by substituting Cranberry Bitters, Orange Bitters or Pear Bitters.
Traditional Disaronno Sour recipes feature a frothy egg white foam, which offers a creamy texture to the drink. Feel free to omit the egg if you are allergic or don’t like consuming raw food products.
Garnish: adorn the rocks glass with a slice or wedge of fresh lemon and Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.

Garnish a classic Disaronno Sour with a lemon slice and Maraschino cherry.

Disaronno Amaretto Sour Cocktail Tips

This Disaronno Amaretto Sour recipe is easy to make at home, ready to serve in 5 to 10 minutes. We love serving Disaronno Sours in the summer as they are refreshing on a hot day. They’re also popular at festive occasions like Christmas dinner and New Years Eve cocktail parties.

Our easy homemade Disaronno Sour serves one person. If you’re hosting a large gathering feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of guests and muddle the drink in a punch bowl or jug rather than a cocktail shaker.

Frothy egg white is a hallmark of the Disaronno Sour amaretto cocktail as it adds a creamy mouthfeel.

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We love serving Disaronno Sour cocktails at Christmas holiday parties and Italian-themed dinners.

How To Make the Best Disaronno Sour Cocktail Recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 9 votes

Disaronno Sour Cocktail

Learn how to make the best Disaronno Sour. Our cocktail recipe features amaretto, bitters, lemon juice, egg white and Maraschino Cherry.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Disaronno Sour

Servings:

Calories: 202kcal

Equipment

Cocktail Shaker
Shot Glass
Cocktail Glass
Strainer
Citrus Juicer

Ingredients

2 oz Disaronno Amaretto
1 oz Lemon Juice
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 Egg White
Lemon Slice and Maraschino Cherry garnish

Instructions

Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Share vigorously for 30-45 seconds until fully combined and chilled.
Strain liquid into an ice filled rocks glass and garnish with lemon slice and cherry.

Nutrition

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