Whiskey Sour: 3 Variations & 3 Similar Cocktails + Recipe

Diana Barkley (Senior Editor)

The Whiskey Sour cocktail is an iconic and beloved drink that combines simple flavors in order to create a delicious beverage. We give you the inside scoop on this drink, from its origins to the best way to enjoy the cocktail. Learn here everything you need to know about the Whiskey Sour.

If you have ever visited a cocktail bar, chances are you have seen a Whiskey Sour on the menu. This classic cocktail is a crowd favorite and is many customers' go-to drink order.

The refined, simple flavors make the Whiskey Sour the perfect drink to enjoy for any occasion. Today, we’ll be taking a look at everything you need to know about the Whiskey Sour.

Introduction to Whiskey Sour

Introduction to Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour is a beloved member of the iconic Sour cocktail family. But what exactly does it mean to be a ‘Sour’ cocktail? How does this differ from any other drink on the cocktail menu?

To put it simply, a ‘Sour’ generally refers to a cocktail that is composed of a base spirit, sugar, and citrus. This can be done in a variety of ways, often through the use of simple syrup and lemon or lime juice.

There are many Sour cocktails out there, such as the Gin Sour or the Pisco Sour. However, the Whiskey Sour is one of the most popular of them all.

Whiskey Sour cocktails have been around for a very long time, yet have managed to remain popular in cocktail bars all over the world.

The simple ingredients in the drink manage to produce a delicious, balanced flavor. It is for this reason that you are likely to find a Whiskey Sour on the menu at restaurants and cocktail bars all over the world.

What Whiskey Sour Is

What Whiskey Sour Is

So, what exactly is a Whiskey Sour? Where did this cocktail originate and how is it made? Let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the essential information that you should know about Whiskey Sours.

Brief History / Origin

Brief History / Origin

As is the case with many cocktail origins stories, there is much confusion surrounding the creation of the Whiskey Sour.

The oldest mention that has been found of the Whiskey Sour cocktail dates back to around 1870. The Whiskey Sour is mentioned in an old publication of the Waukesha Plain Dealer, a local Wisconsin newspaper.

The first printed recipe of the Whiskey Sour can be found in Jerry Thomas’s iconic and beloved book The Bar-Tenders Guide. Since then, the drink has managed to maintain its popularity and fanfare over the years.

These days, Whiskey Sours can be found on cocktail menus all over the world in many different kinds of establishments. That being said, the recipe has had some slight alterations over the years.

While the Whiskey Sour cocktail once contained an egg white, this ingredient is now often omitted.

In fact, it is so uncommon to still include an egg white in a Whiskey Sour that cocktails that do include this ingredient are considered to be a variation of the drink and are given a different name altogether.  However, we’ll go into more detail on that in a later section.

Ingredients

Ingredients

These days, a standard Whiskey Sour only contains three simple ingredients. Let’s go ahead and take a look at what each of these ingredients are. We’ll also examine the important role that they play in the cocktail’s flavor profile:

1. Whiskey: The first ingredient that is required in order to make a Whiskey Sour is the base spirit. In this instance, the spirit needed is whiskey. There are a few different brands of whiskey that work well in the creation of this cocktail, which we will take a look at later.
2. Lemon juice: The next ingredient that is present in the Whiskey Sour cocktail is lemon juice. This adds a dash of tartness and acidity that helps to balance out the drink. The sharp, fruity flavor of the lemon juice elevates the taste of the Whiskey Sour.
3. Simple syrup: The final ingredient that is included in a Whiskey Sour is simple syrup. This basic sugar syrup adds a much-needed sweetness to the cocktail that cuts through the lemon juice and helps to keep the drink well-balanced.

As mentioned earlier, while Whiskey Sour cocktails were traditionally made with an egg white in order to give it a fluffy and creamy consistency, this ingredient is now often omitted.

That being said, several cocktail bars will still include egg white in the drink. So, if you want to give the egg white version a try, why not ask your bartender if they can whip one up for you?

Best Whiskey Brands for Whiskey Sour

Best Whiskey Brands for Whiskey Sour

If you choose to make a Whiskey Sour cocktail at home, you’re going to want to make sure you are using the best ingredients. There are a few different brands of whiskey that work well in this cocktail.

Let’s take a look at some of our top picks when it comes to whiskey brands for the perfect Whiskey Sour:

1. Maker’s Mark: This brand of whiskey has a smooth taste with hints of spiced honey and various sweet fruits. This is a rich, full-bodied whiskey that is well-balanced with sweetness and spice.

The flavors in Maker’s Mark whiskey work incredibly well with the lemon juice and sugar syrup that are present in the cocktail.

2. Buffalo Trace: This whiskey has a sweeter taste than many others, with strong notes of brown sugar, spice, and toffee.

Due to this, this brand of whiskey pairs extremely well with the simple syrup contained in a Whiskey Sour while also cutting through and contrasting with the acidic lemon juice. This helps to keep the Whiskey Sour cocktail well-balanced and really elevates the flavor profile.

3. Woodford Reserve: Woodford Reserve is a rich and smooth whiskey that contains sweet notes of toffee, caramel, and chocolate.

Similar to the Buffalo Trace whiskey, the sweetness of the Woodford Reserve whiskey means that it pairs well with the simple syrup and balances out the lemon juice wonderfully.

Recipe – How to Make a Whiskey Sour

Recipe – How to Make a Whiskey Sour

If you’re interested in making a classic Whiskey Sour at home and are on the hunt for the perfect recipe, then look no further. We’ve got the best recipe for a Whiskey Sour right here.

Let’s go ahead and take a look at the best step-by-step recipe for a delicious Whiskey Sour cocktail that you can make from the comfort of your own home.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces of whiskey
• ¾ an ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ an ounce of simple syrup
• ½ an ounce of egg white (optional)

Method:

1. Add your whiskey of choice, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. If you elect to include egg white in your drink, this is also the stage at which you will add it.
2. Dry shake your ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Do not add any ice to the drink at this stage, as it will interfere with the combination of the ingredients.
3. Once the ingredients are thoroughly combined, add ice and shake again for around 20 seconds to chill the drink completely.
4. Strain the chilled drink into an Old Fashioned glass (though any glass will work fine) with fresh ice.
5. Garnish with an orange wedge and a brandied cherry if desired.

Just like that, you’ve got the perfect Whiskey Sour at home. Since a Whiskey Sour contains so few ingredients, this is a great cocktail to make at home. You won’t have to spend a fortune on different spirits, inclusions, and garnishes.

Time & Occasions for Drinking a Whiskey Sour

Time & Occasions for Drinking a Whiskey Sour

No special occasion is required to enjoy a Whiskey Sour cocktail. The simple ingredients and mild taste mean that this drink works well at all times of day. That being said, this drink is traditionally consumed before dinner.

Being a rather small and uncomplicated cocktail, a Whiskey Sour is unlikely to spoil your appetite. The low alcohol content means that it is not going to make you nauseous before you sit down to eat.

Due to the simple flavors of the Whiskey Sour cocktail, this drink also pairs well with various types of food. This means that it is a great choice as a cocktail to serve alongside your dinner as well as before it.

Perfect Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Have you ever found yourself wondering what the absolute best food to pair with your Whiskey Sour cocktail is? Good news – we’ve got you covered. Let’s go ahead and take a look at our top picks for the greatest Whiskey Sour food pairings.

Steak Dinners

Steak Dinners

The smokey notes that are present in perfectly grilled steaks will compliment the smokiness of your whiskey wonderfully.

The simple taste of a Whiskey Sour won’t overshadow any flavors in your steak dinner and the lemon juice in the cocktail can help to cut through the richness of the steak.

Fruits and Nuts

Fruits and Nuts

This is a great choice if you are leaning more towards bar snacks while drinking your Whiskey Cocktail. Many brands of whiskey include notes of fruit, meaning that eating some fruit alongside it emphasizes these flavors.

The spiciness that is often present in whiskey also works incredibly well with various types of nuts.

Cheese

Cheese

The next time you find yourself indulging in a Whiskey Sour, why not pair it with some cheese? Most types of cheese, particularly smoked cheese, pair incredibly well with a Whiskey Sour cocktail. This is because the smoky notes in the cheese complement the smokiness in the whiskey.

These are, of course, just a few of the perfect pairings for a Whiskey Sour cocktail. There are many other meals and snacks out there that compliment this simple yet flavorful drink wonderfully. As such, don’t be afraid to experiment.

Best Glass to Serve a Whiskey Sour

Best Glass to Serve a Whiskey Sour

When it comes to the best glass to serve your Whiskey Sour, most cocktail fans agree that an Old Fashioned Glass with a fair amount of ice is the way to go.

Not only does this give the drink a classy appearance, but the ice is going to keep it super cold. This is essential, as the Whiskey Sour (like most other variations of Sour cocktail) is best served cold.

Serving the drink in a short glass over ice is going to ensure it stays chilled – and nobody wants a lukewarm cocktail when they are seeking delicious refreshment.

That being said, a Whiskey Sour cocktail can technically be served in any glass that you prefer. In fact, many bartenders serve their Whiskey Sours exclusively in highball glasses.

We’ve even seen this drink be served in a tall martini glass for that elegant, classy look. At the end of the day, the Whiskey Sour cocktail is a simple drink and has no strict requirements when it comes to which glass it is served in.

While other cocktails are best suited to certain glasses to amplify aroma or preserve bubbles, the Whiskey Sour is not nearly as fussy.

Variations of Whiskey Sour

Variations of Whiskey Sour

Although the classic Whiskey Sour remains incredibly popular, there are also a few variations of this cocktail out there that some people swear by.

These variations are created by slightly altering the ingredients of a standard Whiskey Sour. Let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the most popular variations of this iconic drink.

Whiskey Sour with Egg White or Boston Sour

Whiskey Sour with Egg White or Boston Sour

As mentioned earlier, Whiskey Sours typically used to be made using an egg white. While this practice slowly died out, it is still done occasionally – creating what is now called a ‘Boston Sour’.

The Boston Sour cocktail is still fairly popular, with many preferring it to the Whiskey Sour that omits the egg white.

The inclusion of an egg white in this cocktail creates a very smooth, fluffy, and creamy texture. This makes the drink really stand apart from the crowd and gives it a rich and decadent mouthfeel.

New York Sour

New York Sour

To make a New York Sour, one simply has to whip up a classic Boston Sour and then add ½ an ounce of red wine to the top of this drink.

Not only does this give the cocktail a stunning red-to-orange ombre effect, but it also enhances the flavor greatly. By adding a dash of quality red wine to this cocktail, the drink takes on the wine’s strong aromatic qualities.

Not only that, but the dry and fruity flavor of the wine compliments the other ingredients of this drink exceptionally well.

Amaretto Sour

Amaretto Sour

An Amaretto Sour is a variation of a standard Whiskey Sour (or more accurately, a Boston Sour, as it includes an egg white). To this cocktail, 1 1/2 ounces of amaretto liqueur is added.

This gives the drink an entirely new level of flavor due to the unique amaretto taste. The strong taste of fruit and toasted nuts that are present in amaretto pair wonderfully with the whiskey in the drink.

The Amaretto Sour is a hugely popular variation of a Whiskey Sour due to this elevation of the flavor profile.

Similar Cocktails You Will Enjoy

Similar Cocktails You Will Enjoy

Are you a Whiskey Sour lover who is on the hunt for other cocktails that you may enjoy? Well, today is your lucky day. We’ve got three incredible cocktails that are similar to a Whiskey Sour that you are sure to enjoy.

Bourbon Sour

Bourbon Sour

Yes, it is true that bourbon is really just a category of whiskey. So, isn’t a Bourbon Sour actually just a Whiskey Sour after all? The truth is, this is not always the case.

Bourbons are often much sweeter overall, whereas the flavors of whiskey can vary widely. Due to this, ordering a Bourbon Sour can produce a very different outcome compared to ordering a Whiskey Sour.

Ordering a Bourbon Sour will often leave you with a sweeter drink with less of a sharp taste.

Whiskey Smash

Lemon, bourbon, simple syrup – the flavors may seem identical to a Whiskey or a Bourbon Sour, but the Whiskey Smash has its own unique charm.

This cocktail is made by muddling three lemon wedges together in a cocktail shaker before adding bourbon, simple syrup, mint leaves, and ice.

The inclusion of mint leaves in this drink gives it a distinct taste that makes it stand apart from a standard Whiskey or Bourbon Sour. The method of muddling the lemon wedges in a cocktail shaker rather than squeezing the juice directly also gives this drink a less acidic and sharp flavor.

Sidecar

Sidecar

The classic (and extremely beloved) sidecar cocktail is made by combining cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. As you may expect, this drink has a more fruity (more orange-heavy) taste. This cocktail is a great pick for Whiskey Sour lovers who want to try something a little different.

The combination of orange liqueur and lemon juice gives this cocktail a light, bright, and tropical flavor. The use of cognac as the base spirit means that this drink also has some sweetness and spice to it.

This makes it a very well-balanced drink that Whiskey Sour enjoyers are sure to love.

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