How to Make a Vodka Sour

This vodka sour recipe is similar to a classic whiskey sour cocktail but made with vodka. If you love a simple citrus cocktail that’s super refreshing, this drink is for you! This vodka cocktail has a frothy egg-white foam and a sweet, tart taste. It’s a beautiful spring and summer cocktail recipe.

If you love a sour cocktail recipe, then you have to make this vodka sour. It’s can be made within 5 minutes and has a fresh lemon juice flavor. It’s an easy cocktail to make and perfect for happy hour. The frothy topping gives the drink a nice balance and looks beautiful.

What is a Sour?

A sour is one of the first traditional cocktails. This drink was described in Jerry Thomas’s book How to Mix Drinks in 1862! A sour is a mixed cocktail containing a base liquor, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener. Egg whites are also added to some sours to give the cocktail a creamy, foam topping.

If you’re a fan of sour cocktails, try my Aperol Sour, Sake Sour, Hibiscus Sour and Classic Whiskey Sour.

Ingredients in a Vodka Sour

This drink has only 4 simple ingredients! These are ingredients you most likely have at home already. When combined they give this classic vodka sour a perfect balance of sweet and tart.

Vodka – Use good quality vodka as this is the base of the cocktail. You want a smooth vodka that will add flavor and create a great drink.

Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always the best. Lemon juice has a very sour and tart taste by itself, which is why we use a sweetener in this recipe to balance that flavor. But when you use fresh lemons, you have the best quality of juice. You can use Meyer lemons for a sweeter juice.

Simple Syrup – This is a mixture of sugar and water that is simmered together to create a syrup. It’s often used in cocktail recipes as a basic sweetener. If you prefer to use another sweetener, you can use maple syrup, agave, or a zero sugar simple syrup.

Egg Whites – Eggs whites add a frothy top to the cocktail and balance out the tart flavor. We love the creaminess it adds to the drink. You can leave this out if you want to create a vegan cocktail. If you’re going to use egg white, use an organic, pasteurized egg.

How to Make a Vodka Sour (Step by Step)

Here is the basic formula for making vodka sour.

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

• Add all of the ingredients into the shaker.

• Shake for 30 seconds.

• Strain into a glass.

Recipe Tips

Shake your drink vigorously to cool the ingredients and allow air for a forthy cocktail. Shake for at least 30 seconds.

Use fresh lemon juice only. This will give the cocktail the freshest flavor.

We don’t recommend a dry shake for this drink. Add the ice into the cocktail shaker and shake the ingredients with ice. It’s easier to make and tastes better when shaken with ice. It creates a very smooth, chilled drink.

Vodka Sour Variations

Looking for ways to switch up this classic drink? Check out these ideas:

• Add a dash of angostura bitters to give a slightly bitter flavor.

• Use lime juice instead of lemon juice.

• Add a dash of cranberry juice in there for a beautiful pink color.

• Use maple syrup to sweeten the drink instead of simple syrup.

• Add a splash of grenadine and a little maraschino cherry syrup to make a cherry vodka sour.

Vegan Egg White Substitute

If you want that frothy foam on the top, but don’t want to use egg whites try aquafaba or sucrose. You can find these online and follow the directions for creating a foam.

Aquafaba is the name of the liquid that you find when you open a can of chickpeas. It’s completely vegan and can be whipped into foam. We use sucrose in our salt air margarita and it looks beautiful!

Vodka Sour Cocktail Glass

This drink can be served in a coupe glass without ice or in an old-fashioned glass with a large ice cube. We prefer to serve this with ice and love sipping it out of an old-fashioned glass.

Cocktail Garnishes for Vodka Sour

We’re all about charming cocktail garnishes! Here are the best ideas for adding a garnish to your cocktails:

• Lemon Wedge or Lemon Slice
• Lemon Twist or Lemon Zest
• Dried Lavender
• Maraschino Cherry

When to Serve a Vodka Sour

Serve this tasty drink as an evening cocktail, for cocktail hour, or for any of these occasions:

• Brunch
• Pool Party 
• Birthday Party it’s also perfect for a last-minute birthday party!
• Carnival Party
• Garden Party 
• Tropical Party
• Cookies and Cocktail Party

Frequently Asked Questions

What is vodka sour made of?

Like all sour cocktails, the formula is pretty simple. It’s made from citrus juice, vodka, and a sweetener like simple syrup. 

Does vodka sour have sugar?

A vodka sour does contain sugar. However, you can decide what sugar to use. We prefer classic simple sugar, which is a mixture of water and granulated white sugar. You can also use maple syrup or make simple syrup using a zero-sugar sweetener.

Is it safe to drink raw egg whites?

If you’re nervous about adding egg whites into your recipe, use pasteurized eggs. They are gently heated in their shells, just enough to kill the bacteria, but not enough to cook the egg. They are cooked at 140°F for 3 minutes making them safer to use in recipes calling for raw egg.

How many calories does a vodka sour have?

The calorie count of a vodka sour will depend on the vodka you use. However, you can expect a sour cocktail like this to have about 210 calories per drink.

What kind of alcohol is in a sour?

There are several base spirits that can be used in a sour. Gin, whiskey, brandy, tequila, pisco, rum , and amaretto are just a few that you can use to create a simple mixed sour cocktail.

More Vodka Cocktail Recipes

We really enjoy the subtle flavors of vodka and have created some of the best vodka cocktail recipes. Here are our favorites:

• Moscow Mule Recipes
• Dirty Martini
• Vodka and Orange Juice
• Simple Vodka Soda
• The Best Cosmopolitan

Also, try our white lady cocktail that also uses lemon juice and an egg white.

Let us know if you make this vodka sour recipe by leaving a comment and review below!

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