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January 10, 2020

The Classic Whiskey Sour

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There are of course many other Sours, but the Whiskey Sour really is the classic sour, the grandaddy of them all. Sours all follow a generic formula: Spirit + Sour + Sweet, in this case, Whiskey, Lemon, and Simple Syrup.

Whiskey Sour Cocktail
Classic Whiskey Sours

The Classic Whiskey Sour has been on my drink shortlist from childhood. My father had a friend whose mom would make whiskey sours when guests came over, as opposed to the milk and cookies my grandmother would offer. Needless to say, the friend’s place was a more popular hangout. (Grandma Gladys’s cookies might have been part of the problem – aside from her secretly non-kosher meatloaf, she wasn’t known as a great cook.) In addition to being a great illustration of parenting approaches from the 50’s, it also sparked my imagination and made the sour the first drink I ever ordered (at New Haven’s Anchor Bar). The Anchor’s sour was probably straight from a mix but it was as delicious as the drink my dad’s story conjured in my imagination.

How to Make the Classic Whiskey Sour

All citrus-based cocktails are shaken – this is the first axiom of mixology. Get your glass and garnishes ready, and load your shaker up with ice – about 8 cubes worth. Add the liquid ingredients, starting with what’s least precious – generally the simple syrup (but if you’re low on it, maybe it’s more valuable in the moment than Bourbon?). As to the choice of Bourbon, you want to steer a middle course. I once tried to economize with Wild Turkey, and could definitely taste the difference, but you don’t want to use a sipping bourbon. For a change, a blended scotch adds a nice smoky taste. Fresh juice is essential. If you make it with egg white it’s technically a Boston sour – but I generally don’t bother. Certainly don’t go for sour mix or one of those alarming powders! Shake for 15 seconds and strain into an Old-Fashioned glass with rocks. Garnish with a cherry and orange slice.

Box of Alarming Powdered Sour Mix
I advise against this product, citric acid, sugar, and alarming chemistry to mimic egg whites

Whiskey Sour

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Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1 oz lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 0.75 oz simple syrup
  • 1 cherry

Instructions
 

  • Shake liquid ingredients
  • Pour into rocks glass with ice
  • Garnish with cherry, orange slice, or both

Notes

My post on making Simple Syrup is here.
I recommend large format cubes, ideally clear ones which you can make this way.
Keyword cocktails, lemon, sour, whiskey

Modifications to explore

I often float a little port in this drink, slowing pouring it onto the back of a bar spoon over the drink. It adds a nice visual touch and flavor note, assuming you don’t spatter the port everywhere. I sometimes call this a “bloody sour” for Halloween parties.

A Port Wine Float Makes The Standard Whiskey Sour a Little More Special

Other ways to mix it up include using scotch, honey syrup, or an egg white (dry shake first if you go that route – see the recipe for Clover Club).

Cousins: The Gimlet is basically the same drink, with lime and Gin instead of Bourbon and lemon, but is usually served up.

« Jazz Age Elegance: The Aviation
Delicious Sour Variant: The Ward Eight »

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About the Barkeep

The Booze Magician has been mixing drinks for about 20 years now with minimal formal training, just reading and close observation on the rare occasions he goes out to a bar, plus trial and error. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife (The Booze Magician’s Assistant) and kids (for whom he’s currently building a treehouse). By day, he works in online advertising. Read more of his cocktail musings here.

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