How to make a Whiskey Sour Cocktail

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Another refreshing classic whiskey cocktail today; the whiskey sour or a whisky sour if your choice runs that way. Whatever dram you use, does not matter. Let’s look at how to make a whiskey sour cocktail.

The whiskey sour is a cocktail made with bourbon (or whisky), lemon juice, sugar, and optionally, a dash of egg white. The traditional garnish that was used was half an orange slice and a cherry.

The cocktail was mentioned in a Wisconsin newspaper around 1870, but exactly when and where it was created is unknown. Sailors have been drinking something that resembles a sour for even longer. Their reason was more medicinal – it kept scurvy away.

The alcohol base might have been slightly different, but the basic idea was there even during the 1700s. A cocktail that mixes a spirit, a sour, and a sweet.

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I had a delicious whisky sour at a bar a couple of weeks ago and they made it with egg white. I loved the silky creaminess that the egg white added and have included it in my recipe. The original recipe did not include egg whites.

You can treat it as optional if you don’t have safe (pasteurised) egg white available. But it adds a nice depth to the drink. Egg whites do not have a flavour.

This makes it a great addition to a cocktail where you want to create more texture (froth). The egg white protein traps air in your drink and changes the texture without adding other flavours. When using egg white, it works better if you first shake the ingredients together without ice (dry shake).

Variations on the theme

There are quite a few variations on the theme. The New York sour version has a few bar spoons of full-bodied red wine floated on top. An Amaretto sour replaces the whisky with amaretto liqueur.

Best whiskey (or whisky) to use

Bourbon or Tennessee whiskey is the obvious choice for a whiskey sour. Even a spicy rye whiskey. Some suggestions on bourbon to use would include Uncle Nearest, Rittenhouse, Gentleman Jack, or Makers Mark bourbon.

You can also make it with peated whisky. Many people call this version a Smoky Sour. Try an Ardbeg 10 yo or Lagavulin 16 yo or a Johnnie Walker Black whisky. Other (non peaty) Scottish drams I suggest for a whisky sour would be your bolder Highland drams.

You need something big and bold to stand up to the sour element. Drams from Tomatin or Dalmore will work nicely. You can even try with the Timorous Beastie whisky.

Also Read: Pina Colada Cocktail

whiskey sour cocktail in bar