A Classic Whiskey Sour Recipe

Our favorite, classic whiskey sour recipe that is easy to make, perfectly balanced and contains only 4 simple ingredients.

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I love a whiskey sour as whiskey is not my favorite spirit. But this cocktail is more of a sunny, refreshing sipping drink where only the best flavors of whiskey come out. It’s absolutely refreshing and perfect for all seasons. Try this recipe, as the proportions are perfect for a well balanced drink.

This classic cocktail dates back to 1870! It has a sweet and sour flavor from the whiskey and lemon juice. It also has a small amount of simple syrup to balance the flavors.

It’s a shaken drink that is served over ice and garnished with an orange wheel and a cherry. We prefer to serve it over a large ice cube that melts slowly.

How to Make a Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

• Bourbon Whiskey
• Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• Simple Syrup
• Egg White

Garnishes

• Cherry – Fresh or Cocktail Cherry.
• Orange Wheel – Cut in half.

Check out our guide for making simple syrup.

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in the whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white.

Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is cold. About 30 seconds.

Strain into a double old fashioned glass.

To make the garnish, add a half of an orange wheel and a cherry onto a cocktail pick and place over the top of the cocktail.

Quick Tip – We served this over a large round ice cube, using this mold and recommend larger ice cubes that slowly melt for this cocktail.

Whiskey Sour Variations

• The egg white is in this recipe to give the cocktail a frothy layer on the top. This is optional if you prefer to leave it out of the recipe.

• Instead of simple syrup you can also try pure maple syrup.

• Use fresh cherries or cocktail cherries like Luxardo.

• Add lemon juice and orange juice to create a variant of the cocktail called a Ward 8.

Egg White in Cocktails

Adding an egg white into a cocktail creates a smoother finish, helps balance the cocktails tartness and also creates a beautiful frothy layer on the top. The risk of salmonella is low but it’s better to be cautious. So here are some tips for adding egg whites into cocktails.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a whiskey sour and old fashioned?

Both of these classic drinks contain whiskey, but the other ingredients are not the same. An old fashioned contains whiskey, bitters and a sugar cube (or simple syrup) it doesn’t have fresh lemon juice or an egg white that a whiskey sour does. It can also be stirred (or shaken if preferred) but overall an old fashioned has a much stronger whiskey taste.

What does whiskey sour taste like?

It has notes of caramel and vanilla from the whiskey, then a small amount of lemon as the sour component and it’s very lightly sweetened. It truly is very balanced with all of the flavors and notes coming through with each sip. Even if you’re not a big whiskey fan, you would still love this cocktail as it’s not overpowering and just simply delicious.

Is whiskey sour a girly drink?

Heavens no! This drink is for everyone and actually one of my husband’s favorites.

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