classic medium

Whiskey Sour

A timeless classic combining whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Smooth, tart, and refreshing with an optional egg white for texture.

Ingredients

  • Bourbon or Rye Whiskey 2 oz
  • Fresh lemon juice 0.75 oz
  • Simple syrup 0.75 oz
  • Egg white (optional) 1

Instructions

  1. 1 Add all ingredients to a shaker without ice (dry shake if using egg white)
  2. 2 If using egg white, dry shake for 15 seconds to emulsify
  3. 3 Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds
  4. 4 Double strain into a chilled coupe glass
  5. 5 Garnish with a cherry and orange slice
Glassware:

Coupe glass

Technique:

shake

Servings:

1

Garnish:

Cherry and orange slice

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

Tags

#whiskey #sour #classic #bourbon

Source: Classic cocktail