Cocktails
Christmas Cherry-Almond Rye Sour
Shake 45 ml rye whiskey, 15 ml amaretto, 30 ml tart cherry juice, 20 ml fresh lemon juice and 15 ml pasteurized egg white for a ruby-red Christmas sour. Makes one cocktail in about 9 minutes, approximately 180 kcal and 18% ABV before ice dilution; optional garnishes add calories.
A Christmas Cherry-Almond Rye Sour brings together the peppery warmth of rye whiskey, the marzipan-like sweetness of amaretto and the clean acidity of tart cherry and lemon. The result is a red holiday whiskey sour with a soft pink foam, rather than another cranberry-and-gin cocktail. The almond flavor comes from amaretto liqueur, not almond extract; this is an alcoholic cocktail for adults.
Includes chilling, measuring, dry shaking, ice shaking and garnish; not a cooked drink.
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WHAT YOU NEED
Ingredients
METHOD
How to make it
- Chill a coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes. If using garnishes, drain two cocktail cherries, finely chop 1/2 teaspoon toasted almonds and cut one strip of orange zest. Keep the garnish off the work surface where you prepare allergy-sensitive drinks.
- Build the sour without ice. Measure 45 ml rye whiskey, 15 ml amaretto, 30 ml unsweetened tart cherry juice, 20 ml fresh lemon juice and 15 ml pasteurized liquid egg white into a clean shaker. Do not substitute ordinary unpasteurized egg white for a drink that will not be cooked.
- Dry-shake the sealed shaker vigorously for about 15 seconds, without ice, to build the foam. If using the aquafaba alternative, shake it the same way.
- Shake with ice. Add approximately 1 cup ice cubes, reseal and shake firmly for another 12–15 seconds, until the outside is very cold.
- Double-strain into the empty chilled coupe, discarding the shaker ice. Wait 15–20 seconds for the pale pink foam to settle over the deep red liquid.
- Finish only if desired. Set the two cocktail cherries on the foam, sprinkle on the chopped toasted almonds, and express the orange zest over the glass before laying it on top. Serve immediately.
Recipe notes
Estimated 180 kcal for liquid ingredients only, assuming 40% ABV rye whiskey and approximately 28% ABV amaretto. Optional cherries and chopped almonds add roughly 20–40 kcal. Approximately 18% ABV before ice dilution and 14–15% after typical shaking; strength varies. Contains egg and may contain tree nuts; check amaretto and garnish labels. Use pasteurized egg white suitable for uncooked use, or 15 ml unsalted aquafaba for egg-free foam. Not physically tested or tasted by the owner.
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More in this article 4 sections
What does a cherry-almond rye sour taste like?
Rye gives the drink a drier, spicier backbone than a sweet dessert martini. Tart cherry and lemon keep the amaretto from becoming cloying, while the almond aroma lingers after each sip. The recipe intentionally uses unsweetened tart cherry juice; sweetened cherry cocktail juice or syrup can push the drink out of balance. Taste the finished drink before adding any extra sweetener.
Can I make it without egg white?
Yes. Use 15 ml unsalted aquafaba from a can of plain chickpeas instead of pasteurized egg white. It can create a similar foam when dry-shaken and then shaken with ice. Do not use salty or seasoned chickpea liquid. The foam is optional: omitting both egg white and aquafaba produces a clear, less silky sour. The image shows the foamed version.
Make-ahead and serving tips
For a small gathering, measure the rye, amaretto and tart cherry juice into a sealed bottle and refrigerate for a few hours. Keep the lemon juice separate until mixing so it tastes fresh. Add the pasteurized egg white (or aquafaba) only immediately before shaking, and never store a prepared foamed cocktail. Wash the shaker thoroughly before using it for children's drinks.
This is not the same as the Christmas Pomegranate-Rosemary Tequila Sour, which uses tequila and pomegranate, or the creamy Christmas Gingerbread Dark Rum Martini. For a zero-alcohol option at the same table, make the Christmas Apple-Cranberry Cinnamon Sparkler for Kids in separate equipment. More ideas are in the Christmas drinks collection.
Calories, ABV and editorial testing status
Estimated 180 kcal for the liquid drink, based on 45 ml 40%-ABV rye whiskey, 15 ml approximately 28%-ABV amaretto, 30 ml unsweetened tart cherry juice, 20 ml lemon juice and 15 ml pasteurized egg white. The optional two cocktail cherries, almonds and orange zest are not included; they can add roughly 20–40 kcal depending on the cherries. Actual brands vary.
The measured liquids contain approximately 18% ABV before ice dilution (22.2 ml pure alcohol in about 125 ml liquid). Ice melt usually lowers the served strength to roughly 14–15% ABV, but shaking time and ice size change the result. This recipe is an editorial draft and has not been physically tested or tasted by the owner; flavor, timing and nutrition estimates remain subject to owner review.
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