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All cocktails Whiskey Sour

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Whiskey Sour

Aperitivo/aperitif · Citrusy · Classic/vintage

4.7 765 ratings

Ingredients

2 oz Bourbon whiskey
1 oz Lemon juice
2/3 oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1)
3 dash Aromatic bitters
2 drop Saline solution 4:1
1/2 oz Egg white (pasteurised)

How to make

Serve in a old-fashioned glass

Prepare

  1. 1 Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. 2 Prepare garnish of skewered lemon slice wheel and Luxardo Maraschino Cherry (sail).

Method

  1. 3 SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. 4 STRAIN back into shaker.
  3. 5 DRY SHAKE (without ice).
  4. 6 FINE STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Garnish

  1. 7 Garnish with skewered lemon slice and cherry (sail).

Flavour profile

16.0% alc./vol. · 1.5 standard drinks · 227 calories

History

The drink offers a citrusy tartness softened by sweetness and sharpened by robust, toasted bourbon. Many proponents of the sour cocktail family, from the Daiquiri to the Whiskey Sour, suggest a universal "Golden Ratio." While this flexible method can create drinks balanced to individual preferences, each sour variant should be adjusted to complement its specific base spirit. For instance, a Daiquiri made with a light, aged rum would differ from one using a well-matured spirit. When preparing a Whiskey Sour, the aim is to find the ideal equilibrium using a wheat-forward straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 45% alcohol by volume. The traditional sour proportions are stated as 8:3:4: • 2 parts of the primary spirit (60ml / 2oz whiskey) • 3/4 part of the sour component (22.5ml / ¾oz lemon juice) • 1 part of the sweet component (30ml / 1oz sugar syrup) For a considerable period, a personal favorite Whiskey Sour recipe followed a 4:2:1 ratio: • 4 parts whiskey, amounting to 60ml (2oz) • 2 parts lemon juice, totaling 30ml (1oz) • 1 part rich 2:1 sugar syrup, measuring 15ml (½oz) This particular ratio is suited for those who favor a more tart Whiskey Sour. (If using a 1:1 simple syrup, increase the sugar syrup to 22.5ml (¾oz).) In August 2023, in anticipation of Whiskey Sour Day, experiments were conducted with alternative ratios, including an 8:3:2 formula: • 8 parts whiskey, at 60ml (2oz) • 3 parts lemon juice, equating to 22.5ml (¾oz) • 2 parts rich 2:1 sugar syrup, at 15ml (½oz) This version is enjoyable and emphasizes the whiskey more, but the sourness and the lemon flavor are noticeably less pronounced. (If using a 1:1 simple syrup, increase the sugar syrup to 22.5ml (¾oz).) Ultimately, a preferred 6:3:2 formula was determined: • 6 parts whiskey, equating to 60ml (2oz) • 3 parts lemon juice, totaling 30ml (1oz) • 2 parts rich 2:1 sugar syrup, measuring 20ml (⅔oz) (If using a 1:1 simple syrup, 30ml would be required, thereby simplifying this to a 2:1:1 ratio, a common approach in the USA where simple syrup is more widely used than a rich 2:1 syrup.)

The Whiskey Sour has a long and debated history. While its exact origins are unclear, it is a classic cocktail that has been enjoyed for generations.