Betty Carter

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (15 ratings)

Photographed in an Urban Bar Retro Optic Coupe 21cl

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Bourbon whiskey
34 oz Lustau San Emilio Pedro Ximénez Sherry
12 oz Lucano amaro
34 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
3 drop Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

A sherry and amaro-influenced Whiskey Sour.

View readers' comments

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2015 by Jeremy Oertel at Berlyn restaurant & bar in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. Named as a tribute to Betty Carter, the famous jazz singer who lived nearby.

Nutrition:

One serving of Betty Carter contains 180 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 19.79% alc./vol. (19.79° proof)
  • 20.8 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Matt’s Avatar Matt
4th April at 03:29
Interesting - initially get lemon and slight tart, but a vegetal/celery flavor juts up quickly and pushes the lemon to the background, then some sweet raisiny flavor tames the celery (with lemon bkgnd all the while). Not much from the bourbon (besides heady ABV). Not attractive in a glass (like most/all PX cocktails - a cloudy brown). The Velvet Old-Fashioned is still my fav PX cocktail.
Frederic D.’s Avatar Frederic D.
3rd March at 01:35
I used Alvear for the sherry as well (thanks, Wegmans), and Redwood Empire whiskey. Although this is a fine drink, I found it a bit too tart for my taste, and had a hard time discerning the Lucano. I'll have to try again with less lemon next time.
Justine Fehley’s Avatar Justine Fehley
18th January at 03:49
I used a local "bourbon" finished in gin casks, Alvear sherry. Good mix. I would up the Lucano by 5 ml or use the Anniversario edition if I made again.
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
29th December 2024 at 13:40
A lovely sour. And she was a lovely woman...whip smart and oh what a singer.
william  dennehy’s Avatar william dennehy
23rd September 2024 at 02:54
Absolutely fabulous. Mixed exactly as described. My top ten for sure.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
1st August 2024 at 11:53
No Lucano on hand. Hasn't been in house for awhile since it's a bore to mix with... Tried this recipe 4 times with different ratios, featuring Cynar... 45-20-20-20... You're welcome.