Cooking Lesson #1141: Rum-Amaretto Sour

…from the Perspectives’ Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? Here’s a popular rum and amaretto cocktail perfect for the second Happy Hour Friday of the New Year. 
 
My Rum-Amaretto cocktail combines dark spiced rum, amaretto, fresh lime juice, pineapple juice, and simple syrup. This cocktail offers a sweet and tropical flavor profile that's perfect for cold winter weather.
 
Amaretto (Italian for 'a little bitter') is a sweet Italian liqueur originating from the comune (municipality) of Saronno. Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds, all of which are natural sources of the benzaldehyde that provides the almond-like flavor of the liqueur. It generally contains 21 to 28 percent alcohol by volume.

When served as a beverage, amaretto can be drunk by itself, used as an ingredient to create several popular mixed drinks, or added to coffee. Amaretto is also commonly used in Italian and other cuisines, especially in recipes for confectionery and sweet baked goods.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail
 
Ingredients 
1/2 ounce dark spiced rum (I prefer Captain Morgan Rum)
1-1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
1/2 ounce egg white
1 skewered Amarena cherry, garnish
1 orange peel, garnish
 
Directions

1. Read the recipe all the way through before starting. Measure all ingredients and have at your side.
2. Add the rum, amaretto, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a shaker; dry shake (no ice).
3. Add ice and shake again until chilled.
4. Strain over ice in an old fashioned glass.
5. Garnish with a skewered Amarena cherry and an orange peel.

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ChefSecret: When making Simple Syrup, simmer the two ingredients until the sugar is dissolved. I sometimes serve this cocktail chilled in a coupe glass without ice.
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Quip of the Day:  Q. How do you get a computer drunk?  A. A screenshot of Captain Morgan.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, kind, thankful, and stay well and safe. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, including those still suffering the effects of the recent hurricanes. Please consider donating to Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and/or American Red Cross.

#Cocktail #HappyHour2026 #HappyHourFriday #RumAmarettoSour #Rum #Amaretto #Cheers2026 #HolidayHappyHour #Cheers #HolidayRecipes #Recipes2026 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  

                                                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2026

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