Alabama Slammer Cocktail

Also called the Southern Slammer, the Alabama Slammer is a vibrant Southern cocktail known for its smooth blend of sweet and fruity flavors. This classic drink, featuring Southern Comfort, sloe gin, amaretto and orange juice, is terrific for serving at a summer gathering or mixing up for a casual evening at home.

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About this Alabama Slammer cocktail recipe

I’m all for a themed cocktail, especially one with some location history. It’s so fun to visit new places and try their signature drink. Here in North Carolina, for example, we love our Cheerwine Cocktail. Some other famous location cocktails are the Kentucky Mule and the Manhattan, named for the borough in New York City.

The Alabama Slammer represents the state of Alabama. It may look like a glass of Southern sweet tea, but it packs more of a punch.

With spiced whiskey called Southern Comfort plus fruity sloe gin, nutty amaretto and sweet orange juice, the Alabama Slammer is full of flavor you have to try.

More U.S. State cocktail recipes: Colorado Bulldog • Maryland Orange Crush • Texas Margarita • Tennessee Mule

Why you’ll love this recipe

Here’s why the Alabama Slammer might be your new favorite summer cocktail:

• The Alabama Slammer is refreshing and flavorful, with hints of fruit and nuttiness. A very easy sipper!
• It’s a great choice for social gatherings and casual occasions.
• This drink is super simple to put together.

What is an Alabama Slammer?

The Alabama Slammer, or Southern Slammer, is a classic cocktail that originated in the southern United States. It’s a sweet and fruity drink made with Southern Comfort, sloe gin, amaretto (almond liqueur) and orange juice, typically served over ice in a highball glass. However, some people enjoy Alabama Slammer shots, which are a miniature version of the drink meant to be thrown back.

It has a smooth, easy-drinking taste, and looks like a glass of iced tea. The Alabama Slammer has been a favorite at parties and bars since its rise to popularity in the 1970s. The drink is popular for cheering on the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where the drink was invented. It’s not uncommon to have the drink at Crimson Tide tailgates and game day watch parties! (Roll Tide.)

Second to the Alabama Slammer, or possibly even first, there’s also the Yellowhammer cocktail, or Yellowhammer Slammer, which has pineapple juice, orange juice, rum, amaretto, vodka and orange liqueur.

History

According to Punch, the drink is said to be invented in the 1970s in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the home of the University of Alabama. The drink became a hit with college students cheering on the Crimson Tide.

Harry’s Bar in Tuscaloosa lays claim to inventing the drink, but the drink was likely invented prior to the bar’s opening in 1972. The 1971 edition of the Playboy Bartender’s Guide included a version of the recipe with Southern Comfort, amaretto, sloe gin and lemon juice — not orange juice.

A later version in the 1984 Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide also called for lemon juice, but orange juice is what is used today. It has less of an acidic kick and is easier for bars to mix up into shots and big batches.

Tools & glassware

To make an Alabama Slammer cocktail, you’ll need a basic bartending set that includes a cocktail shaker, jigger and strainer.

You’ll also need a cutting board and knife to slice the orange garnish and a cocktail pick for the cocktail cherry.

Serve the drink a highball glass, or any tall skinny glass that you have. You can also divide it into shot glasses if you prefer to enjoy Alabama Slammer shots!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to grab at the grocery store to make this recipe:

• Southern Comfort whiskey: Southern Comfort is a brand of whiskey that has a lightly sweet flavor and a hint of spice. (In college, we called it SoCo.) You could use cinnamon whiskey or plain whiskey instead if you don’t have SoCo on hand.
• Sloe gin: This is a type of gin that is infused with sloe berries, which come from the blackthorn tree. Purplish red in color, it adds a fruity vibe to the base of herbal gin.
• Amaretto: Amaretto is an almond-flavored liqueur that hails from Italy, and famous for its role in the amaretto sour. It is sweet and a little bitter. Its almond flavor is derived from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones or almonds, depending on the brand. Disaronno is probably the most popular brand out there, but Amaretto Di Amore is another well-known brand.
• Orange juice: Fresh juice makes a big difference if you have the time to juice oranges. I like to use an electric juicer to make more at once, but you can also use a hand-operated one.

Garnishes

Don’t forget the garnishes! The Alabama Slammer is usually embellished with an orange slice, which adds a zesty aroma as you sip.

It also usually gets a cocktail cherry. Most people will use a maraschino cherry, the bright, neon red ones. However, I prefer a more sophisticated cocktail, so I used Luxardo cherries here. Use whatever you like though!

Best sloe gin

Sloe gin is different from gin. It’s a liqueur made by infusing gin with sloe berries and sugar. Sloe gin has a dark reddish-purplish color and a fruity, berry, herbal flavor. Aside from the Alabama Slammer, it’s also used in drinks like the sloe gin fizz.

Now, there are high quality bottles and there are bottom-shelf ones. The difference is going to be massive in flavor, so I don’t recommend going the cheapest route. I used Sipsmith brand here, but Hayman’s and Plymouth have great versions as well.

Instructions

You can make this easy cocktail recipe in a few simple steps:

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the Southern Comfort and sloe gin.

Then add the amaretto and orange juice.

Shake well and strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange wedge and a cocktail cherry.

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making the BEST Alabama Slammer drink:

• Use high-quality sloe gin for the best flavor, and pair it with a cocktail cherry, not a super-sweet maraschino cherry.
• Take the time to juice oranges if you can, versus using store-bought. The fresh juice will give it the brightest, freshest flavor.
• If you want to make a big batch in advance, stir everything up together in a pitcher and stash it in the fridge until ready to serve.

Food pairings

The Alabama Slammer cocktail should go with all your favorite Southern foods, like fried chicken, shrimp & grits, fried okra and cat head biscuits.

For dessert, a slice of lemon pound cake or ginger ale cake would pair well with the citrus flavors.

You could also go for spicier foods to combat the sweetness of the drink. An appetizer of shishito peppers or some spicy salsa would be delicious too.

FAQ

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