The Alabama Slammer is the perfect summer cocktail for front porch sipping – it’s sweet, fruity, and strong!

Alabama Slammer

The Alabama Slammer is a bright and colorful drink that looks as sweet as it tastes. Yes, this is a very sweet and fruity cocktail! But a word of caution, this is still a fairly strong drink that can sneak up on you!

Made with a blend of liqueurs and orange juice, the Alabama Slammer is known for its vibrant orangish-red hue and the flavors of summer fruit.

As the name implies, the Alabama Slammer was indeed created in the state of Alabama. It first appeared at campus parties in the 1970s at the University of Alabama. It’s easy to see why it quickly became popular among the college crowd: the Alabama Slammer is a sweet and refreshing drink, but since it is made with 3 types of liqueurs it is a sneakily strong drink.

Still a popular drink throughout the Southern United States, the Alabama Slammer may also be called a “Southern Slammer.” But really, this is a great summertime drink no matter where you live!

Alabama Slammer cocktail, Southern Comfort bottle, bowl of cherries

Ingredients

1 oz Southern Comfort
1 oz Sloe Gin
1 oz Amaretto
2 oz Orange Juice

Optional Garnish Ideas

Orange Slices
Maraschino Cherries
Grenadine

Helpful Bartending Tools

For your convenience, we’ve included shop-able ad links to products we love and use; disclosure policy available here.

Cocktail Jigger (for measuring liquor amounts)
Boston Cocktail Shaker Set (contains shakers, jigger, strainer)
Bar Spoon (though you could also use a regular teaspoon for this one)

Recipe intended for readers 21+

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake for a few seconds until well combined and chilled.
Pour the contents of the shaker into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with and orange slice and a cherry.

Prep Tips

The Alabama Slammer can also be served as a shot. The preparation is the same, but instead of pouring into a cocktail glass with ice, you’ll strain evenly into shot glasses.
For a sweeter and less strong drink, you can use 1/2 ounce of each of the liqueurs and increase the amount of juice.
To get an especially vibrant color and a little extra fruit flavor, you can add a 1/2 ounce of grenadine to the shaker when mixing your drinks.

close up of a bright red cocktail with orange slice and cherry

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can You Substitute For Sloe Gin?

Sloe Gin is a British liqueur made by blending gin and the fruit of the blackthorn tree, which is similar to plums.

Since it is not necessarily a common ingredient in American cocktails, you might not have this handy unless you already bought it for a specific recipe.

However, you can create a similarly flavored substitute by mixing equal parts grenadine and vodka. If using this sloe gin substitute, you’ll swap it out in this recipe at a 1:1 ratio.

Is The Alabama Slammer Made With Whiskey?

Technically, no, the Alabama Slammer is not made with whiskey. It IS however made with Southern Comfort, which is a whiskey-based liqueur. If you like whiskey cocktails, it’s a good bet you’ll like this drink too!