A little sweet, a little sour and a whole lot of almondy goodness - the Amaretti Sour is one of those cocktails that manages to be both comforting and refreshing at the same time. With Lyre’s Amaretti, you get all the nutty, marzipan richness of a classic amaretto without the alcohol, making this a perfect zero-proof option for after-dinner sipping or weekend winding down.
Balanced with fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and a silky egg white foam (or a vegan alternative if that’s more your style), this non-alcoholic Amaretti Sour is indulgent, nostalgic and deliciously moreish.
Non-Alcoholic Amaretti Sour Recipe
Ingredients:
-
15ml lemon juice (fresh is best, but St Andrews Lemon Juice is a great fallback!)
-
5ml simple syrup
-
10ml egg white (can be substituted for a range of alternatives, see below)
-
3 dashes aromatic bitters (whatever you have on the bar-cart, if you have none then one of these will be perfect
-
Ice
-
Lemon wedge and maraschino cherry, to garnish
Method:
-
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
-
Shake once without ice (dry shake) to build foam.
-
Add ice and shake again hard until well chilled.
-
Strain into an old fashioned glass filled with fresh ice.
-
Garnish with a lemon wedge and maraschino cherry.
Egg White Alternatives
-
Aquafaba: This is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. It mimics egg white texture without any animal products and adds no noticeable flavour. Use about 15ml in place of egg white.
-
Wonderfoam (or Fomo): 100% plant-based and taste-neutral foaming agent, add a couple of drops to your shaker in place of the egg-white.
-
No foam, no problem: If you want to skip the foam altogether, just leave it out and shake the rest of the ingredients with ice. You’ll still get a deliciously balanced cocktail, just with a lighter body and no foam on top.
Tips and Tweaks
-
Vegan friendly: Swap the egg white for aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas). It gives the same frothy texture.
-
Extra nutty: Add a drop of almond extract for a richer marzipan hit.
-
Sweeter finish: Increase the simple syrup to 10ml if you prefer a rounder, softer sip.
-
Bitter edge: A few extra dashes of bitters can deepen the flavour and balance the sweetness.
Final Thoughts
The Lyre’s Amaretti Sour is proof that non-alcoholic cocktails can be every bit as satisfying as the classics. With its balance of nutty sweetness, zesty lemon and smooth foam top, it’s a crowd-pleaser that works just as well as a dinner party showpiece or a quiet nightcap.
Sweet, sour, silky and almondy - this one ticks every box.
