Gingerbread Amaretto Sour

Looking for a holiday drink that'll jingle your bells? Warm up your holidays with this festive twist on the classic Amaretto Sour cocktail. This delightful holiday cocktail combines rich gingerbread spices with sweet and tangy notes, making it the perfect festive drink for seasonal celebrations.

The Gingerbread Amaretto Sour is a shaken winter cocktail that captures the cozy flavors of gingerbread in a glass. By combining bourbon, amaretto, fresh lemon juice, homemade gingerbread syrup, and egg white, this festive drink becomes the ideal addition to your holiday gatherings. The blend of rich spices and smooth, frothy texture makes it a delightful Christmas cocktail to enjoy by the fireplace.

Quick facts about the Gingerbread Amaretto Sour cocktail

• Method: Shaken
• Flavor profile: Sweet, spicy, nutty, tangy
• How to serve it: In a coupe glass, garnished with a gingerbread cookie (or tiny gingerbread house) and freshly grated nutmeg
• Glassware: Coupe glass
• Alcohol content: ~17% ABV, approximately 19 grams of alcohol per serving

Ingredients

• 0.75 oz Bourbon: Like in the classic recipe, the addition of bourbon brings depth, warmth, and oak notes to the drink.
• 1.5 oz Amaretto: The star of the drink, provides a sweet, almond flavor that complements the spices.
• 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice: Balances the sweetness with a citrus tang.
• 0.5 oz Gingerbread Syrup (recipe below): Infuses the cocktail with festive gingerbread spice flavors. This syrup is also delicious in other drinks; try it in a whiskey sour or a classic Old Fashioned cocktail.
• 1 Egg White: Creates a silky, frothy texture on top. If you don't like egg white, use aquafaba instead.

How to make the Gingerbread syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Water: Base for the syrup.
• 1 cup Brown Sugar: Sweetens the syrup with molasses notes.
• 1/4 cup Molasses: Adds rich, dark sweetness.
• 2–3 Cinnamon Sticks: Infuses warm spice.
• 3–4 Cloves or 1 tsp Ground Clove: Adds aromatic spice.
• 3–4 Allspice Berries or 1 tsp Ground Allspice: Contributes a mix of spices.
• 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg: Adds sweet, nutty flavor.
• 1 Piece of Fresh Ginger: Provides a spicy kick.
• 1–2 tsp Vanilla Extract (added after cooling): Enhances the sweetness.

Instructions:

1. Heat all ingredients over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
2. Simmer for 8 minutes, then remove from heat and let it cool completely.
3. Once cooled, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
4. Strain the mixture and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Required Bartending Tools

• Cocktail Shaker: Essential for mixing and chilling the cocktail ingredients thoroughly. I recommend a metal Boston Shaker for this.
• Hawthorne Strainer: Used to strain the cocktail into the glass, removing ice and spice particles.
• Fine Mesh Strainer: For double straining to achieve an ultra-smooth texture. Not necessarily needed but if you like an extra smooth drink, use it.
• Jigger: Ensures precise measurements for balanced flavors. I typically use a Japanese-style jigger but you can go with any jigger type you have.
• Grater: For freshly grating nutmeg over the final cocktail.

Step-by-Step Guide to Make this Cocktail

1. Prepare the glass: Chill a coupe glass by adding ice cubes and water to the glass.
2. Measure the ingredients: Add 0.75 oz bourbon, 1.5 oz amaretto, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 oz gingerbread syrup, and 1 egg white into a cocktail shaker without ice.
3. Dry shake: Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and create a frothy texture.
4. Wet Shake: Open the shaker, add ice to it, and shake again until well-chilled, about 15–20 seconds.
5. Strain the cocktail: Use a Hawthorne strainer (and fine-mesh for a double-strain) to strain the cocktail into your prepared coupe glass.
6. Garnish and Serve: Place a gingerbread cookie on the rim or side of the glass. Then grate fresh nutmeg over the top of the cocktail for an aromatic finish.

Gingerbread Amaretto Sour

The Gingerbread Amaretto Sour is a cozy, spiced-up twist on a classic, mixing sweet almond notes with zesty lemon and warming gingerbread—it's like a festive hug in a glass!

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Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes minutes

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: amaretto, bourbon, egg white, gingerbread syrup, lemon juice, nutmeg

Servings: 1

Cost: 3,40

Equipment

• 1 Cocktail Shaker
• 1 Hawthorne Strainer
• 1 Jigger
• 1 Grater for the nutmeg

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Amaretto
• 0.5 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 0.5 oz Gingerbread syrup
• 1 Egg white - can be substituted with 0.5oz aquafaba

Instructions

• Prepare a coupe glass by filling it with ice cubes and water.
• Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
• Open the shaker, add ice, and shake again for 15 seconds.
• Discard the ice and water mix from your glass and strain the cocktail into your coupe.
• Grate fresh nutmeg on the frothy foam.
• Garnish with a gingerbread cookie or gingerbread cookie house.

Notes

For the Gingerbread syrup

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Water: Base for the syrup.
• 1 cup Brown Sugar: Sweetens the syrup with molasses notes.
• 1/4 cup Molasses: Adds rich, dark sweetness.
• 2–3 Cinnamon Sticks: Infuses warm spice.
• 3–4 Cloves or 1 tsp Ground Clove: Adds aromatic spice.
• 3–4 Allspice Berries or 1 tsp Ground Allspice: Contributes a mix of spices.
• 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg: Adds sweet, nutty flavor.
• 1 Piece of Fresh Ginger: Provides a spicy kick.
• 1–2 tsp Vanilla Extract (added after cooling): Enhances the sweetness.

Instructions:

1. Heat all ingredients over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
2. Simmer for 8 minutes, then remove from heat and let it cool completely.
3. Once cooled, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
4. Strain the mixture and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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