Alabama Slammer Recipe
The Alabama Slammer, also known as Southern Slammer, is a fruity, sweet and bright cocktail composed of Southern Comfort, Sloe gin and Amaretto.
Refreshingly fruity and very addictive, the Alabama Slammer is perfect for happy hour, as dessert cocktail or even served at a Southern inspired bridal shower or party.
The combination of juice, Amaretto, Sloe gin (or vodka) and Southern comfort gives it fruity flavors with delicious nutty and caramel hints.
Invented in the ‘80s at the University of Alabama, the cocktail is a Southern staple, especially at a Crimson Tide tailgate.
The original Alabama Slammer recipe was meant to be consumed as a shot.
So we get it… college days call for easy-to-make, potent, and easy-to-drink cocktails, and that’s exactly what the Alabama Slammer is!
What Ingredients Go In an Alabama Slammer Cocktail?
Southern Comfort — Also known as SoCo, Southern Comfort is an American whiskey-based liqueur that boasts a golden caramel color. It’s blended with apricot, orange, vanilla, and cinnamon which lends to its fruity and smooth flavors.
SoCo is easy to find and is a versatile liqueur used in not only many cocktails but also in baked goods.
Amaretto — Amaretto is a sweet and sour Italian liqueur made from almonds and apricot stones. There are many brands of this almond liqueur so any works. However, our personal favorite is Amaretto DiSaronno.
For more Amaretto recipes, check our Amaretto Sour or our delicious Summer Fruit Tiramisu.
Sloe gin or vodka — The classic Alabama Slammer recipe calls for Sloe gin, which is a gin-based liqueur made from sloe drupes (a type of fruit similar to plums). It’s bright red with a sweet plummy taste, similar to the taste of raisins.
But in case you cannot find Sloe gin or don’t care for the taste, substitute it with vodka.
Fresh orange juice — Bottled orange juice is fine and we know it is a more convenient option. But as with all recipes, we highly encourage fresh ingredients.
Useful Equipment To Make the Alabama Slammer with a Twist
Jigger — To measure the pour of each ingredient
Cocktail shaker — To mix all the ingredients
Citrus juicer — To extract the orange juice
Cocktail strainer and a fine mesh strainer — For a smooth cocktail without any orange fiber residue
Knife — To cut the orange wedges for the garnish
Cocktail pick — For the garnish
Collins glass or highball glass — Although it can be served in almost any glass, a tall glass is ideal
How to Make an Alabama Slammer Cocktail
1 — Squeeze 1 orange and reserve the juice. You can strain it now or later when mixed with the rest of the ingredients.
2 — In a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, add all the liquor and the orange juice. Shake well to combine.
3 — Fill a Collins glass up to 3/4 with ice, and then pour the mixture through a cocktail strainer. For a perfectly smooth texture and to avoid any fruit residue, double strain the mixture with a fine-mesh strainer.
4 — Prep a cocktail pick with one orange wedge and a maraschino cherry. Sit the garnish on the side of the glass. Add a couple of straws and enjoy!
Alabama Slammer Recipe Notes and Tips
— Depending on how tall your glass is, you might need to add more orange juice to top it up.
— This delicious cocktail can be easily turned into a punch for large gatherings.
To do so, the proportions of each ingredient should be 1 part Southern Comfort, 1 part Sloe gin (or vodka), 1 part Amaretto and 2 parts orange juice.
And in this case, the Alabama Slammer recipe served as a punch can be made in advance. Just add the ice right before serving.
Then, garnish the punch bowl with orange wheels. And you can’t serve a Southern drink at a party without Southern favorite appetizers like Frito pie mason jars and cinnamon churros.
More Easy Fruity Drink Recipes
For more fruit flavored drinks, check out a few of our favorites from the archives —
- Cranberry Sidecar Cocktail Recipe
- Mojito Pitcher Recipe
- Tailgate-Ready Pineapple Beertails
- Immunity Boosting Citrus Gin Punch Cocktail
Alabama Slammer Recipe
Equipment
- Citrus juicer
- Cocktail strainer
- Fine mesh strainer optional
- Knife
- Cocktail pick
- Collins glass or any tall glass
Ingredients
- 1 oz Southern Comfort
- 1 oz Sloe gin or vodka
- 1 oz Amaretto
- 2 oz orange juice fresh
- 1 orange wedge
- 1 maraschino cherry for garnish
- Ice
Nutrition
Notes
- Depending on how tall your glass is, you might need to add more orange juice to top it up.
- To make as punch for large gatherings:
- Measure the proportions to be 1 part Southern Comfort, 1 part Sloe gin (or vodka), 1 part Amaretto and 2 parts orange juice.
- The punch can be made in advance. Just add the ice right before serving and garnish punch bowl with orange wheels.
Instructions
- Squeeze 1 orange and reserve the juice. You can strain it now or later when mixed with the rest of the ingredients.
- In a cocktail shaker, add the liquors, the orange juice, and a couple of big ice cubes and close tightly. Shake well to combine.
- Fill a Collins glass up to 3/4 with ice, and then pour the mixture through a cocktail strainer. For a perfectly smooth texture and to avoid any fruit residue, double strain the mixture with a fine-mesh strainer.
- Prep a cocktail pick with one orange wedge and a maraschino cherry. Sit the garnish on the side of the glass. Add a couple of straws and enjoy!
Don’t forget to share your Alabama Slammer with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? You can find them all right here with a few desserts to go along with them.
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