Alabama Slammer
A sweet, fruity drink with sloe gin, amaretto and freshly squeezed orange juice — college nostalgia in a glass.
Ingredients
- Sloe gin30 ml
- Amaretto30 ml
- Southern Comfort, where the ‘bama comes from30 ml
- Orange juice, freshly squeezed60 ml
- Orange, for garnish (optional)1 slice
- Cocktail cherry, for garnish (optional)1 piece
Method
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
- Add the sloe gin, Southern Comfort, amaretto and freshly squeezed orange juice.
- Shake hard for 10–15 seconds, until the shaker is ice-cold.
- Fill a tall glass with fresh ice and strain the drink into it.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry.
About this drink
The Alabama Slammer emerged in the 1970s, reportedly among students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and quickly became a fixture of college parties and football games. It found an international audience after appearing in the 1988 film Cocktail, and its bright colour and sweet, fruity style have made it an enduring summer-party favourite. The recipe varies slightly from bar to bar, but its core is always the same: whiskey liqueur, sloe gin, amaretto and orange juice shaken with ice.
Questions and answers
Can you substitute the sloe gin in an Alabama Slammer?
Sloe gin brings the berry-red colour and gently bitter almond edge that ordinary gin cannot provide. If you do not have any, another berry liqueur such as Chambord can give a similar impression, but expect a sweeter, more raspberry-led drink.
Should an Alabama Slammer be shaken hard?
Absolutely — a vigorous 10–15-second shake creates a light foamy edge and a cool balance of sweetness and acidity from the orange juice. Shake it for too little time and the drink will be cloyingly sweet and insufficiently diluted.