An Amaretto Sour is a delicious Italian liqueur cocktail made with amaretto, lemon juice, and simple syrup or sugar. But like any cocktail, it does come with a considerable amount of calories. So how many calories are actually in an Amaretto Sour drink? Let’s take a closer look.
The Ingredients in an Amaretto Sour
To understand how many calories are in an Amaretto Sour, we first need to know what ingredients go into this cocktail. An Amaretto Sour typically contains:
- 1 1⁄2 oz amaretto
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1⁄2 oz simple syrup or sugar
- Orange slice or maraschino cherry for garnish
Amaretto is the key ingredient that gives this drink its distinct almond flavor. It’s an Italian liqueur made from apricot pits and almonds. The lemon juice provides tartness to balance the sweetness of the amaretto and simple syrup. Simple syrup is simply sugar dissolved in water. It’s used to sweeten and thicken the cocktail.
Calories in Amaretto
To determine the calories in an Amaretto Sour, we need to look at the calorie count of each ingredient individually. Let’s start with the amaretto.
A 1.5 oz serving of amaretto contains about:
- 226 calories
Amaretto is a liqueur, which means it has a higher sugar content than other spirits like vodka or gin. This results in more calories per serving compared to those types of liquor.
Calories in Lemon Juice
Next up is the lemon juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is very low in calories. A 1 oz serving of lemon juice has approximately:
- 4 calories
So the 1 oz of lemon juice in an Amaretto Sour only adds a minimal amount of calories to the cocktail.
Calories in Simple Syrup
The simple syrup or sugar is where the rest of the calories come from in an Amaretto Sour. A standard simple syrup is made with equal parts sugar and water. There are about 200 calories in 1⁄2 oz of simple syrup, made with:
- 1⁄4 oz sugar (200 calories)
- 1⁄4 oz water (0 calories)
So the 1⁄2 oz of simple syrup contributes approximately 200 calories to the drink.
Total Calories in an Amaretto Sour
If we add up the calories from each ingredient, a full Amaretto Sour cocktail with standard proportions contains approximately:
- 226 calories from 1 1⁄2 oz amaretto
- 4 calories from 1 oz lemon juice
- 200 calories from 1⁄2 oz simple syrup
That brings the total calorie count to around 430 calories per Amaretto Sour drink.
For a visual breakdown of the calories per ingredient, see the table below:
| Ingredient | Amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Amaretto | 1 1⁄2 oz | 226 |
| Lemon juice | 1 oz | 4 |
| Simple syrup | 1⁄2 oz | 200 |
| Total | — | 430 |
Does Glass Size Change the Calories?
The above calculation is based on the standard recipe proportions for an Amaretto Sour. However, the calories can vary slightly depending on the glass size and recipe ratios used.
For example, if made in a larger highball glass with 2 oz amaretto instead of 1 1⁄2 oz, the calorie count would increase accordingly.
On the other hand, if made in a smaller rocks glass with 1 oz amaretto instead of 1 1⁄2 oz, the total calories would decrease.
But in most cases, the standard recipe ratios result in around 430 calories per Amaretto Sour drink.
Factors that Increase Calories
There are a few factors that can potentially increase the calorie content in an Amaretto Sour:
- Using amaretto with a higher sugar content – Some amaretto brands have more sugar added than others, which results in more calories.
- Adding extra simple syrup – The more simple syrup in the drink, the higher the calorie count becomes.
- Using a sweeter garnish – Garnishes like maraschino cherries add more calories than a simple orange slice.
- Larger serving size – Amaretto sours served in bigger glasses with more alcohol contain more calories.
Being aware of these factors can help you estimate how many calories your specific Amaretto Sour may have based on how it is prepared.
Lower Calorie Options
If you’re looking to lighten up your Amaretto Sour, there are a few easy ways to reduce the calorie content:
- Use less amaretto – Stick to 1 oz instead of 1 1⁄2 oz to slash calories.
- Lower-calorie sweetener – Try stevia or monk fruit instead of simple syrup.
- Add club soda – Lengthen the drink with a splash of zero-calorie club soda.
- Skip the garnish – Use a lemon wedge instead of cherries or oranges to eliminate excess calories.
With these tweaks, you can make a lighter Amaretto Sour for around or under 200 calories.
Does Brand of Amaretto Matter?
The specific brand of amaretto used in an Amaretto Sour can make a slight difference in the calorie content. Here’s a look at how the calories compare between popular brands:
| Amaretto Brand | Calories (1.5 oz) |
|---|---|
| DiSaronno Originale | 210 |
| Lucano | 249 |
| Amaretto di Saronno | 224 |
| Lazzaroni | 246 |
| Gozio | 216 |
As you can see, the calorie range is 210-249 calories per serving depending on brand. Luccano tends to be on the higher calorie side, while DiSaronno Originale is one of the lowest calorie options.
The Bottom Line
An Amaretto Sour prepared with standard recipe proportions contains approximately 430 calories per serving. This is based on using 1 1⁄2 oz amaretto, 1 oz lemon juice, and 1⁄2 oz simple syrup.
The calories can fluctuate slightly depending on factors like glass size, recipe ratios, and specific ingredients used. But in most cases, you can expect your average Amaretto Sour to cost you around 430 calories.
If you’re looking to lighten it up, try lowering the amaretto amount, using zero-calorie sweeteners, adding club soda, or skipping high-calorie garnishes. This allows you to enjoy the cocktail flavor while reducing the calorie impact.
At around 400 calories, an Amaretto Sour is certainly not a low-calorie beverage. But it’s not the worst cocktail option out there either. By making smart tweaks and paying attention to serving sizes, you can cleverly imbibe while keeping calories in check.