Why estelle bossy loves luxardo amaretto for her amaretto sour
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words by EMILY PRICE
photography by JEFF BROWN
The Amaretto Sour is one of those drinks that everyone recognizes, but not everyone respects. For Estelle Bossy, that’s kind of the point.
“It’s a really approachable cocktail for people who maybe aren’t deep in bar culture,” she says. “Even if they don’t know what a Last Word or an Aviation is, they’ve probably heard of an Amaretto Sour.”
Bossy is a longtime bartender and beverage consultant who’s opened a number of bars across New York. Her background — especially her time running the bar at a fine-dining Italian restaurant — has made her deeply familiar with Italian spirits, Luxardo’s lineup included. “We had a very full Italian back bar,” she says. “That’s where I really started working with Luxardo’s products.”
She’s also held roles as beverage director at Union Square Hospitality Group and has helped open bars in hotels and restaurants across the city, both full time and as a consultant. “A lot of my career has been shaped by working with Italian spirits and wine,” she says.
When it comes to the Amaretto Sour, what makes the cocktail stand out, she says, is its core ingredient: almond. “Almond is so versatile,” Bossy explains. “It plays well with gin, with bourbon, with scotch, agave, even apple brandy. It’s like ginger beer in that way — it works across the board.”
“The access we still have to legends in the bourbon industry is really cool,”
And while some drinkers may remember the Amaretto Sour as overly sweet or one-note, Bossy sees it as an opportunity to build something layered and balanced. “It’s a cocktail you can use to start a bigger conversation,” she says. “You can split the base with another spirit — bourbon is classic, but rum, apricot brandy, or agave work great too.”
In her version, she keeps things flexible. Use what you like, but keep Luxardo’s Amaretto at the core.
“It's a cocktail you can use to start a bigger conversation,” she says. “You can split the base with another spirit — bourbon is classic, but rum, apricot brandy, or agave work great too.”
Bossy prefers Luxardo’s Amaretto for its botanical character and natural balance. “The nose is beautifully perfumed, but not cloying. There’s no artificiality, which is something I’ve noticed in other brands,” she says. “You get floral notes, plus a little vanilla, which I think comes from the barrel aging — a rarity in amaretto production.”
As for garnish, she sticks with the classic: a Luxardo Maraschino cherry. “They’re the only cherries I use,” she says. “They have this nice, slightly firm texture, and the syrup is incredible — sweet, a little sour, and just as valuable as the cherries themselves.
This article is sponsored by LUXARDO USA.
Hover over the ingredients to learn more about the AMARETTO SOUR
TEQUILA
Bossy suggests incorporating a high-proof tequila to create a bolder, drier cocktail
FRESH LEMON JUICE
To balance the sweetness of the Amaretto and enhance the drink’s overall liveliness
LUXARDO MARASCHINO CHERRIES
Adds a touch of elegance and a deep cherry flavor to the final presentation
LUXARDO AMARETTO DI SASCHIRA
Rich and smooth with toasted, nutty aromas
AQUAFABA OR EGG WHITE
Used to create a silky texture and a foamy head when shaken
Her pro tip? Don’t forget the lemon twist. “Expressing a little lemon oil over the top gives it a rose-like aroma, and since almonds are related to roses, there’s a nice aromatic story there.”
Not into egg white? No problem. “Aquafaba [vegan chickpea liquid] is a great stand-in,” Bossy says. “It gives you that nice texture without needing to deal with eggs.”
She also notes that the Amaretto Sour can be a great tool for customization behind the bar or at home. “This is one of those drinks that can be tailored to different palates easily,” she says. “It’s forgiving, it’s flexible, and it’s familiar enough to bring people in.”
Estelle's amaretto sour
Ingredients
1 ½ ounces Luxardo Amaretto di Saschira
¾ ounce high proof tequila
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
¾ ounce egg white or aquafaba (lightly whisked)
Lemon twist
Garnish: Luxardo Maraschino Cherry
Directions
Combine liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously.
Strain over a single ice cube in a stemmed cocktail glass.
Express the oils from a lemon twist over the drink and discard.
Garnish with Luxardo Maraschino Cherry.
To dial up the complexity, she adds a splash of high-proof tequila. “The elevated alcohol content creates a bolder, drier cocktail, while the savory, roasted agave flavors nicely complement the amaretto’s toasted, nutty aromas,” she says.
When it comes to technique, she has strong opinions — especially about dilution. “I am not a fan of egg white sours served on the rocks as they dilute and unravel rapidly,” she notes. “So I pour my sour into a cocktail glass over just one cube, keeping the drink chilled but maintaining its balance.”
And if you’re using egg white, she suggests one final trick: pre-whisking. “It makes them easier to measure and builds a frothy cocktail with no double shake.”
Here’s how she makes it:
“Expressing a little lemon oil over the top gives it a rose-like aroma, and since almonds are related to roses, there's a nice aromatic story there.”
Whether you’re looking to revisit an old favorite or introduce something new to your next dinner guest, the Amaretto Sour has a lot more to offer than its often-stodgy reputation might suggest. With a few thoughtful ingredients — especially a well-made amaretto like Luxardo’s — it becomes something nuanced, balanced, and genuinely satisfying.
“It’s a cocktail that meets people where they are,” Bossy says. “And then invites them to go a little deeper.”
Hover over the ingredients to learn more about the AMARETTO SOUR