Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe

Olive Garden is a popular American casual dining restaurant chain that specializes in Italian-American cuisine. It was founded in 1982 in Orlando, Florida.

Over the years, this restaurant became famous not just for pasta and breadsticks, but also for incredible drinks. One of their most loved drinks is the Amaretto Sour.

The restaurant introduced this recipe to guests looking for something sweet, tangy, and smooth all at once. Customers fell in love with the almond flavor mixed with fresh citrus.

The drink tastes like smooth almond sweetness mixed with bright lemon tang. Every sip feels balanced between sweet and sour notes.

The Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe became so popular that people started asking how to make it at home. The best part – you can now create this copycat recipe yourself.

What is Amaretto?

Amaretto is an Italian liqueur that tastes like sweet almonds. The name comes from the Italian word “amaro” which means bitter.

But don’t worry – this drink is not bitter at all. Most amaretto has a sweet taste with hints of apricot pit and vanilla. People have been making this liqueur in Italy for hundreds of years.

The most famous brand is DiSaronno, which comes in a square glass bottle. Amaretto works great in cocktails because it mixes well with citrus fruits and other spirits. Some people even pour it over ice cream or add it to coffee.

The alcohol content usually sits around 21 to 28 percent, which is less than vodka or whiskey.

Why You’ll Love This Amaretto Sour Recipe

1. Super Quick to Make – This drink comes together in under five minutes. You don’t need any special skills or training. Just measure, shake, and pour. That’s all there is to it.
2. Uses Basic Ingredients – Everything you need can be found at any grocery store. No hunting for rare items or expensive bottles. Most people already have lemons and sugar at home.
3. Tastes Amazing – The combination of sweet amaretto and sour lemon creates perfect harmony. Each sip goes down smooth and leaves you wanting more. The flavors balance each other beautifully.
4. Great for Sharing – This recipe makes one drink, but you can easily multiply it for guests. Everyone loves this cocktail at parties and gatherings. It looks fancy but costs very little to make.
5. No Complicated Steps – Even someone who has never made a cocktail before can do this. The instructions are clear and simple. There’s no way to mess it up.

Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• Amaretto (1½ ounces): Use any brand available at the store. DiSaronno is a popular choice. If someone doesn’t drink alcohol, use almond syrup instead and add more lemon juice to balance the sweetness.
• Simple Syrup (1 ounce): This is equal parts sugar and water mixed together. Buy it ready-made or make it at home by heating equal amounts of sugar and water until the sugar melts. Honey or agave nectar can work as a substitute.
• Lemon Juice (¾ ounce): Fresh lemon juice gives the sour taste to balance all the sweetness. Bottled lemon juice works too but fresh tastes better.

Garnishes

• Orange Slice: This goes on the rim of the glass to make it look nice. It also adds a light citrus smell. Any orange works fine. A lemon slice can replace it if needed.
• Cherry: This is the finishing touch on top. Use maraschino cherries from a jar. Fresh cherries work too when they are in season.
• Ice: Used for shaking and serving. Regular ice cubes from the freezer work perfectly.

Recommended Equipment

1. Mixing glass or cocktail shaker – For combining ingredients
2. Measuring tool (jigger) – Measures liquid amounts accurately
3. Strainer – Keeps ice out of glass
4. Rocks glass or Old Fashioned glass – The serving glass
5. Knife – For cutting orange slice

How To Make Olive Garden Amaretto Sour

Step 1 | Prepare the Garnish

Cut a slice from an orange and get a cherry out of the jar. Put these aside for later.

Step 2 | Fill the Glass with Ice Cubes

Take the mixing glass or cocktail shaker and fill it up with ice cubes. The ice needs to be cold so it can chill the drink properly. Don’t skip this step because warm drinks don’t taste as good.

Step 3 | Add the Amaretto

Measure out 1½ ounces of amaretto. Pour it slowly into the mixing glass over the ice. The amaretto should be at room temperature or cold from the fridge.

Step 4 | Add the Simple Syrup

Next, measure 1 ounce of simple syrup. Add this to the mixing glass with the amaretto. The syrup will sink down through the ice.

Step 5 | Add the Lemon Juice

Now measure ¾ ounce of fresh lemon juice. Pour this into the mixing glass too. All three liquids are now sitting with the ice in the glass.

Step 6 | Shake the Drink

Put the lid on the shaker or cover the mixing glass with a strainer. Hold it tight with both hands. Shake everything really hard for about 10 to 15 seconds.

The shaker will get very cold in your hands. That means it’s working right. The shaking mixes all the flavors together and makes the drink cold.

Step 7 | Fill the Serving Glass with Ice

Get your rocks glass or Old Fashioned glass. Fill it all the way up with fresh ice cubes. This ice is different from the ice used for shaking.

Step 8 | Strain and Pour

Hold the strainer over the rocks glass. Pour the mixed drink from the shaker through the strainer into the glass.

The strainer will catch the ice from the shaker so only the liquid goes into your serving glass. The drink should look light brown or amber colored.

Step 9 | Garnish and Serve

Take the orange slice and place it on the rim of the glass. You can make a small cut in the orange so it sits on the edge better. Drop the cherry into the drink or place it on top.

Now the copycat Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe is ready to enjoy right away while it’s still cold.

Tips for the Perfect Amaretto Sour

Here are a few extra ideas to make your drink even better.

• Chill Your Glass First: Put your rocks glass in the freezer for 10 minutes before you start. This keeps your drink colder for longer.
• Taste as You Go: Before you pour it, you can dip a spoon in to taste. Want it more sour? Add a tiny bit more lemon. Want it sweeter? Add a little more simple syrup.
• Shake with Energy: Don’t be shy! A good, strong shake mixes the ingredients well and adds a little froth from the lemon juice, which looks great.
• Try a Sugar Rim: Run a lemon wedge around the rim of your glass. Then, dip the rim in sugar. It adds a sweet crunch with every sip.

Best Ways to Serve This Cocktail

This cocktail works great as an after-dinner drink. The sweet and sour combination feels refreshing after a big meal. Serve it alongside dessert like tiramisu or chocolate cake.

You can also offer it as a welcome drink when guests arrive at your home. The pretty orange and cherry garnish makes people smile as soon as they see it.

At Olive Garden restaurant, servers bring this drink in a rocks glass with plenty of ice. They place it on a small napkin on the table next to your breadstick basket.

The restaurant often suggests pairing it with their lighter pasta dishes or seafood meals. Some people enjoy sipping this slowly during happy hour while eating small snacks.

Keeping Your Drink Fresh

The Amaretto Sour is best enjoyed right after it’s made, while the ice is still cold and the flavors are balanced.

If left too long, the ice will melt and water down the drink. For preparing in advance, mix the amaretto, syrup, and lemon juice together and store in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Do not add ice until just before serving. Garnishes should be added at the last moment so they look fresh.

Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe FAQs

1. Why do I need to shake the drink so hard?

Shaking does two important things. First, it chills the liquid very fast because it moves around all the ice. Second, it adds a little bit of air and water from the melting ice.

This makes the drink taste smoother and better mixed. A good, strong shake makes a big difference in the final taste.

2. How do I adjust the sweetness?

The sweetness comes from the simple syrup. To make the drink sweeter, add a little more syrup. For a less sweet version, reduce the syrup and add a splash more lemon juice.

3. Is this recipe good for beginners?

Absolutely, the steps are straightforward. No fancy skills needed. Just measure and shake. Tools are basic kitchen items.

Practice once, and you’ll get it right. Read through first. It builds confidence. Friends will think you’re a pro. Start with small amounts. Scale up later. Enjoy the process.

4. How do you make simple syrup at home?

Simple syrup is made by heating equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Once cooled, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This is cheaper and fresher than buying it at the store.

5. Why is my drink too watery?

This usually happens when the ice melts too quickly. Use larger ice cubes and don’t let the drink sit in the shaker too long before pouring. Always serve right after shaking for the best texture.

6. What if I don’t have a shaker?

Use a mason jar with a tight lid instead. It shakes well and strains with a fork if needed. Or stir vigorously in a tall glass with ice for 30 seconds.

The result won’t foam as much but still blends flavors. Any sturdy container works in a pinch. This swap keeps things simple for beginners without special tools. Practice to get the chill right.

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Yield: 1

Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe

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Enjoy the Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe in 5 minutes. Sweet amaretto and fresh lemon make this copycat cocktail easy and delicious at home.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

• Amaretto – 1½ ounces (DiSaronno recommended; almond syrup for non-alcoholic version with extra lemon juice)
• Simple Syrup – 1 ounce (equal parts sugar and water; honey or agave can substitute)
• Lemon Juice – ¾ ounce (fresh preferred; bottled works too)

Garnishes:

• Orange Slice – for rim decoration (substitute lemon slice if needed)
• Cherry – 1, maraschino or fresh seasonal
• Ice – for shaking and serving

Instructions

1. Cut an orange slice and get a cherry. Set aside.
2. Add ice to the shaker or mixing glass to chill the drink properly.
3. Measure 1½ ounces and pour over the ice.
4. Measure 1 ounce and add to the shaker.
5. Add ¾ ounce of fresh lemon juice to the mix.
6. Cover and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds. The shaker will feel cold; this ensures proper mixing and chilling.
7. Add fresh ice to the rocks glass.
8. Pour the drink through a strainer into the serving glass, keeping ice from the shaker out.
9. Place the orange slice on the rim and drop the cherry into the drink. Enjoy immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 220Sodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 15gSugar: 14g

This Olive Garden Amaretto Sour Recipe lets you enjoy a restaurant favorite in your own home. The mix of sweet amaretto and tangy lemon is always a good choice.

With just a few simple steps, you can create a delicious drink that feels special.