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Home » Eats & Drinks » A Classic Whiskey Sour Recipe

A Classic Whiskey Sour Recipe

Published on January 22, 2021 Updated on February 3, 2021 by Eden

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

Whiskey sour with an orange slice and fresh cherry on top.

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.

Ingredients on a marble table to make a whiskey sour recipe.

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.

Overhead of a whiskey sour cocktail served over a large ice cube.

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 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.
Cherry and orange slice garnish on a whiskey sour

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.

Whiskey sour cocktail with orange and a cherry.

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.

More Classic Cocktails You’ll Love!

Classic Negroni

How to Make an Aperol Spritz

How To Make A Manhattan Cocktail

Classic Paloma Cocktail

A Refreshing French 75

Bee’s Knees Cocktail

How to Make a Classic Mint Julep

Lets know if you make this delicious whiskey sour recipe by leaving a comment and review below!

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Classic Whiskey Sour

Our favorite classic whiskey sour recipe that is easy to make, perfectly balanced and contains only 4 simple ingredients.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American
Keyword: classic cocktail, Lemons, whiskey, whiskey sour
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 Cocktail
Calories: 76kcal
Author: Eden

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
  • 1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 3/4 ounce simple syrup
  • 1/2 ounce egg white

Garnishes

  • 1 cherry, fresh or cocktail cherry
  • 1 orange wheel

Instructions

  • 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 and garnish with a cocktail or fresh cherry and an orange wheel.

Notes

Here are some quick alternatives for making a whiskey sour:
Use 100% maple syrup instead of simple syrup.
Skip the egg white if you don’t want to consume raw egg. 
Add a dash of orange juice or orange bitters.
And remember to always SHAKE the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice for 30 seconds! This will create a well balanced drink.
 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Classic Whiskey Sour
Amount Per Serving (1 Cocktail)
Calories 76 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 36mg2%
Potassium 83mg2%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 7IU0%
Vitamin C 12mg15%
Calcium 6mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @sugarandcharm or tag us #sugarandcharm!


3 Comments

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Comments

  1. katerina @ diethood.com says

    January 22, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    5 stars
    YES, please!! This Whiskey Sour sounds fabulous!

    Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    January 22, 2021 at 4:25 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, my husband and I LOVE this! Made it the other day and we were obsessed!

    Reply
  3. Kim says

    January 29, 2021 at 5:28 pm

    5 stars
    New favorite drink over at our house! Soo good—we tried it with maple syrup. I’m basically a bartender, right? 😉

    Reply

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Eden of Sugar and Charm

Adding a little charm to the everyday life with entertaining and lifestyle inspiration, sweet recipes and classic style… your daily dose of sugar and charm!

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