shakeMediumCocktail
Whiskey Sour
A timeless classic combining whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Smooth, tart, and refreshing with an optional egg white for texture.
Ingredients
- 2 ozBourbon or Rye Whiskey — or rye whiskey
- ¾ ozLemon juice
- ¾ ozSimple syrup
- 1 wholeEgg white (optional)
Method
- 1Add all ingredients to a shaker without ice (dry shake if using egg white)
- 2If using egg white, dry shake for 15 seconds to emulsify
- 3Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds
- 4Double strain into a chilled coupe glass
- 5Garnish with a cherry and orange slice
Bar tools
- Cocktail shaker
- Hawthorne strainer
- Jigger
- Glassware
- Coupe glass
- Method
- shake
- Makes
- 1 drink
- Garnish
- Cherry and orange slice
whiskeysourclassicbourbon
The Whiskey Sour is a foundational cocktail that every bartender should master. It's a perfect example of the sour template: spirit, citrus, and sweetener.
The Egg White Debate
Traditional whiskey sours often include an egg white, which creates a silky texture and beautiful foam. If you're concerned about raw eggs, you can:
- Use pasteurized egg whites
- Skip the egg white entirely
- Use aquafaba (chickpea water) as a vegan alternative
Variations
- Boston Sour: Add a red wine float on top
- New York Sour: Similar to Boston Sour but with a different wine
- Amaretto Sour: Replace whiskey with amaretto
Source: Classic cocktail