It’s been two hundred years since the whiskey sour was first created, and two hundred years later, it’s still one of the most delicious (and easy to make) whiskey cocktails! This staple cocktail combines sweet and sour into one refreshing drink. If you haven’t had one before, this Don-Draper-approved drink contains whiskey (or bourbon), fresh lime juice and a hint of simple syrup to add some sweetness. Even though the drink may sound complicated, it’s actually an easy cocktail that requires minimal efforts and only a few ingredients! Follow along on our recipe below and you’ll be the star of the bar in no time.
What You Need to Get Started
To get started, all you need is your favorite whiskey, a few lemons, and some sugar. If you’re feeling fancy you can add a dash of egg white, but we’ll get to that later!
To make one whiskey sour you will need:
1 ½ ounces of whiskey (depending on how strong you like them)
1 ounce of lemon juice – you should be able to get that much from squeezing one half of a lemon!
¾ an ounce of simple syrup (or gomme syrup)
How to Make Simple Syrup
Just like the name implies, simple syrup is easy to make. To measure, you need one part sugar and one part water. Heat the sugar and water mixture over the stove on low heat, stirring as you go. Stir until dissolved.
Cocktail Time
To make a whiskey sour, all you need to do is add all the above ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake for 15 seconds. As a pro tip, we recommend using a stainless steel cocktail shaker. The steel helps to get your whiskey as cold as possible, and quickly. After you shake the drink, pour it into a glass, add ice, garnish and voila! We told you, it’s easy!
Now, Enjoy!
To add a little pizzazz, we recommend adding a cherry, orange rind, or lemon wedge as garnish. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to kick back and enjoy.
How to Add A Little Flair to Your Whiskey Sour
Add an egg white! If you’ve never made an egg white cocktail before, we understand it can be a bit intimidating. Egg whites don’t seem like a normal ingredient in a cocktail! But when added to a cocktail mixture and shaken over ice, egg whites add a deliciously frothy texture to your drink.
When you’re perfecting your whiskey sour recipe, keep in mind that everyone likes their drink a little different! The good thing about a whiskey sour is that the simple recipe is easy to adapt to your taste buds. If you like a sweeter drink, add a little more simple syrup. If the citrus is a little strong, feel free to only add half a slice.
Planning a cocktail night with your friends? Check out our full selection of whiskey pairing products that will make you the envy of your friends.