Amaretto and Dr Pepper is a two-ingredient highball: 2 ounces of amaretto poured over ice and topped with 4 ounces of cold Dr Pepper, finished with a lime wedge. That is a 1:2 ratio, and you can stretch it to 1:3 with more soda. Adults of legal drinking age only, please drink responsibly.
This is written up from Occasional Cocktails' amaretto and Dr Pepper, with my adaptations noted in the card. I would expect it to taste like Dr Pepper with an almond and cherry-pit edge, but I have not taken this through my own kitchen yet, so treat the ratio as a starting point and adjust the soda to taste.
What does amaretto and Dr Pepper taste like?
Amaretto is an Italian liqueur with an almond-like flavor and a mild bitterness balanced by sugar. Wikipedia notes it can be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones or almonds, all sources of the benzaldehyde that gives the almond taste. Almond and cherry are already part of how people describe Dr Pepper (the 23 flavors lists usually include amaretto), so I would expect the liqueur to deepen the soda's own flavor rather than fight it. The lime is there to cut the sugar, since both ingredients are sweet.
What is the best ratio of amaretto to Dr Pepper?
The source recipe uses 1:2, 2 ounces of amaretto to 4 ounces of Dr Pepper. Amaretto is lower in alcohol than most spirits, generally 21 to 28 percent ABV, which is why a heavier pour than a vodka or whiskey highball is common. If it tastes too sweet or too strong, add soda rather than ice.
| Pour | Amaretto | Dr Pepper | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (1:2) | 2 fl oz | 4 fl oz | The source recipe's ratio |
| Longer (1:3) | 2 fl oz | 6 fl oz | My adaptation, a lighter drink |
| Smaller (1:2) | 1 fl oz | 2 fl oz | My half-size adaptation, in a rocks glass |
Is amaretto and Dr Pepper the same as a Dr Pepper shot?
No. The drink people call a Dr Pepper shot is the Flaming Dr Pepper or its no-flame drop shot: amaretto (sometimes with a floated layer of high-proof liquor) dropped into a glass of beer and drunk at once. It contains no Dr Pepper; it is named for tasting like it. This page is the opposite: real Dr Pepper with amaretto, sipped over ice. If you want the beer-foam version that started as the bar trick, my Dr Pepper cocktail adds a splash of lager. Difford's Guide's Doctor Pepper cocktail shows the imitation version, amaretto with IPA and cola.
For other spirits, try Jack and Dr Pepper, spiced rum and Dr Pepper, Dr Pepper and Fireball or Dr Pepper and vodka. Everything else is in the Dr Pepper drinks and cocktails guide and the Dr Pepper recipes.
Frequently asked questions
How much amaretto do you put in Dr Pepper?
About 2 ounces of amaretto for 4 ounces of Dr Pepper, a glass full of ice and a lime wedge. Go up to 6 ounces of soda for a lighter, less sweet glass.
What is amaretto and Dr Pepper called?
Most people just call it amaretto and Dr Pepper. I have not found an established cocktail name for the two-ingredient highball. Names like "Dr Pepper shot" or "Flaming Dr Pepper" belong to the amaretto and beer shot.
Can you use Dr Pepper Zero Sugar?
Yes. Dr Pepper Zero Sugar or Diet Dr Pepper cuts the soda's sugar, which I would expect to suit an already sweet liqueur. Amaretto itself is sweetened, so the drink is lower in sugar, not sugar-free.
Does it have caffeine?
Yes, from the soda. Keurig Dr Pepper's product facts give approximately 41 mg in a 12 fl oz can, so 4 to 6 ounces carries roughly 14 to 21 mg. The CDC notes that caffeine does not reduce the effects of alcohol and can make you feel less affected than you are.
