Easy Alabama Slammer Cocktail Recipe

If your bar cart is 80% vibes and 20% sticky residue, you’re in the right place. Today we’re making the Alabama Slammer: the sunset-in-a-glass cocktail that tastes like someone put orange sherbet and the 70s in a blender. It’s juicy, a little sweet, and absolutely not pretending to be “light.” Think Southern Comfort, amaretto, sloe gin, and orange juice—aka the four horsemen of “I’m fun now.” It’s the kind of drink that makes friends with everyone at the party and then texts you at 2 a.m. to ask if you’re awake. You are now.

My husband claims he “doesn’t like sweet drinks,” which is hilarious because he drank two of these and then tried to explain how smoke alarms work to the dog. I made a batch in my too-small shaker (yes, I saw the spill coming, no, I did not get a bigger shaker), and our children immediately appeared to ask if the cherries were “just for decoration.” They ate every garnish, I used a plastic dinosaur to stir round two, and honestly? Peak hospitality.

Time-Saving Hacks

– Use good store-bought orange juice. If anyone asks, say it’s “cold-pressed” and change the subject.
– Pre-batch the booze: mix Southern Comfort, amaretto, and sloe gin in a jar. Add OJ per glass so it doesn’t taste like yesterday’s brunch.
– No shaker? Mason jar with a lid. Yes, you can feel superior about it.
– Skip garnishes and tell people you’re “keeping it minimalist.” Translation: the kids ate all the cherries.
– Eyeball the 1-1-1-2 ratio. If you count “one Mississippi,” you’re basically a professional.

Serving Ideas

– Over crushed ice if you’re fancy; in a red cup if you’re honest.
– Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry—or a gummy bear if the produce drawer is a crime scene.
– Serve at game day with salty snacks so nobody notices you forgot actual dinner.
– Pair with “wine if the kids drove you nuts,” or just pour another round and call it team building.
– Brunch pitcher? Dangerous. Delicious. Worth it.

What to Serve It With

– Spicy wings, BBQ ribs, pulled pork sliders—sweet meets smoky and everyone wins.
– Pimento cheese, deviled eggs, and kettle chips that swear they’re “artisanal.”
– Nachos, pizza, or fried chicken for that “I hosted on purpose” energy.
– Dessert: peach cobbler or anything with cinnamon. Sugar knows sugar.
– Patio, porch, or couch with a show you pretend you’re not rewatching.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Use plenty of ice. Dilution is a feature, not a bug. Warm slam = regret.
– Can’t find sloe gin? Sub regular gin + a small splash of grenadine, or raspberry liqueur if you’re wild.
– Classic ratio: 1 oz Southern Comfort, 1 oz amaretto, 1 oz sloe gin, 2–3 oz orange juice. Shake hard, 10 seconds, strain over fresh ice.
– Too sweet? Add a squeeze of lemon or top with soda water. Boom: balance.
– Make a pitcher, keep it cold, give it a stir before pouring. Don’t add ice to the pitcher unless watered-down is your kink.
– Shot version: equal parts booze with a splash of OJ, shake, strain. Suddenly you’re popular.

✔Storage Tips

Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.
If you pre-batch, keep just the spirits together up to a week. Add OJ the day-of. Once mixed with juice, drink within 48 hours for best flavor, and shake before serving because separation is natural (just like my bangs in humidity).

✔Variations and Substitutions

– Bourbon Slammer: swap Southern Comfort for bourbon. It slaps, respectfully.
– Spicy Slammer: add a pinch of cayenne or a jalapeño slice. She’s cute but chaotic.
– Sparkling Slammer: top with club soda or prosecco to lighten it up and cause accidental giggles.
– Tropical: sub half the orange juice with pineapple. You live your truth.
– Zero-Proof-ish: use almond syrup + cranberry or raspberry syrup + OJ, and a splash of NA whiskey or bitters-free NA spirit. Still fun, still festive.
– Extreme laziness: pour everything straight into the glass over ice and stir. Call it “deconstructed.” You’re an artist now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Easy Alabama Slammer Cocktail Recipe

A bright, fruity Southern classic made with Southern Comfort, sloe gin, amaretto, and orange juice. It shakes up in minutes and tastes like sunshine in a glass.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 1

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 1 oz Southern Comfort
• ▢ 1 oz sloe gin
• ▢ 1 oz amaretto liqueur
• ▢ 2 oz orange juice freshly squeezed if possible
• ▢ 0.5 oz lemon juice optional, for brightness
• ▢ 1 cup ice
• ▢ 1 slice orange for garnish
• ▢ 1 piece maraschino cherry for garnish

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add Southern Comfort, sloe gin, amaretto, orange juice, and lemon juice (if using).
• Shake vigorously until well chilled, about 10 to 15 seconds.
• Strain into an ice-filled highball or Collins glass.
• Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry. Serve immediately.

Notes

Adjust the sweetness by adding a splash of lemon juice or reducing the amaretto. For a party version, multiply ingredients and build in a pitcher, then pour over ice. This drink is also popular as a shot—simply shake with ice and strain into shot glasses.