How To Make A Whiskey Sour

The whiskey sour is a silky, sultry 150yr old cocktail that dates all the way back to the Lincoln administration. This makes it one of the oldest cocktails that we still enjoy today. This cocktail has a mixture of whiskey, citrus, and elegance — its one cocktail you cant go wrong with.

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Why is it Called a Whiskey Sour?

The recipe for a whiskey sour was first printed in 1862 in the “Jerry Thomas Bartenders Guide”. Originally sailors in the British Navy were drinking their spirits to pass time of the ship. They would keep plenty of lemons and limes on board to prevent scurvy, this is also how they got the nickname “limeys”. So they began to add it into their spirit. Eventually, they began to add sugar into their drinks as well to take away the tartness and so the whiskey sour had its beginnings.

How To Make a Whiskey Sour?

So how do you make a whiskey sour? Well, there are two ways that have shaped over the years. Here’s how to make both. Ingredients list:

2oz of Bourbon

3/4oz Fresh Lime Juice

1/2oz Simple Syrup

1/2oz Egg White

Garnish with Bitters

Cherry Garnish

These are the original ingredients to make a whiskey sour. If you went to order this at a bar today it may or may not have the egg whites added in. This is how there are two different variations to this old classic. If you have never enjoyed the egg white version of this cocktail then it is a must sip. The egg white foam adds a delicious silky texture that smooths out the tartness of the lemon. If you can’t find a bartender that makes it with the egg whites — here’s how you make it at home.

What Is a Whiskey Sour?

A whiskey sour is the perfect blend of whiskey and citrus. This beloved cocktail can be made the traditional version with egg whites or without.  

When is National Whiskey Sour Day?

National whiskey sour day is celebrated on the 25th August each year.

How Do You Serve a Whiskey Sour?

There are two separate ways to make a whiskey sour based on if you make your cocktail with the egg whites. So there is both options and what glass to serve them in.

If you are making it with the egg whites, put all of your ingredients in a shaker. Do not add ice to the shaker yet, instead you are going to do what is called a “dry shake” with the egg yolks first. After all of your ingredients are shaken, then you can add in the ice and do a second shake. This allows the cocktail ingredients to be more cohesive and aromatic. After you have shaken everything, grab yourself a coupe glass and strain into the glass. This method will create a beautiful frothy topping that looks like none other. After the drink has settles put a couple dashes or aromatic bitters on the top as a garnish and you have yourself a classic cocktails with a little bit of extra protein.

If you are a little wary about egg whites, that’s completely fine and this cocktail is still brilliant even without it. If you are making the cocktail without the egg whites then place all of the ingredients in the shaker (minus the egg whites) along with some ice and shake together. Since we aren’t worried about froth you don’t need to worry about doing a drink shake. After you feel like everything is nice and cold you can pour your cocktail into an old fashioned glass over ice. Don’t forget a couple dashes of bitters to taste!

What Glass is a Whiskey Sour Served in?

If you are serving this cocktail with egg whites then you will serve it in a coup cocktail glass. If you are serving it without the egg whites then you will serve it an old fashioned glass.

Do You Put Ice in a Whiskey Sour?

If you are serving the version with egg whites, then no. You shake the cocktail with ice and strain into a coup glass. If it is made without egg whites then it is perfect with ice cubes in a old fashioned glass to enjoy your cocktail with.

Can You Customize a Whiskey Sour?

This cocktail has many variations to it, which makes it wonderfully customizable. One of the most popular ways to consume this beverage it with a re wine topper. The red wine give the egg white foam a lovely red hue and elaborated the citrus flavor as well. This wine highlight all of the depth of the whiskey while adding to the sweetness.

If you don’t have any lemons on hand, try swapping it out for a lime! It will give it a slightly different flavor while maintaining the integrity of the cocktail.

If you don’t want to hinder the taste of your drink but want to you can customize what garnish goes on your cocktail without changing the taste. You can garnish with an orange and maraschino cherry or you can add just a twist of lemon. Whatever your heart desire may be — add away.

Another variation of this classic drink is to swap out the simple syrup for maple syrup. This maintains the sweetness of the cocktail while allowing the smokiness of the whiskey to come more to the forefront as you sip. If you want to add in an extra level of spice, throw in a slice of ginger and muddle with your liquor.

Is It Safe To Drink Egg Whites?

It is never 100% safe to consume raw egg whites. There are some risks for consuming raw egg whites, mainly salmonella. Salmonella is mainly found on the outside of the egg which is why bartenders make sure the shell is clean before cracking the egg. Handling the eggs carefully is what will ensure that you will not get sick after consuming. If you are still wary of how the egg whites may affect you, the loner you let the drink rest the more the alcohol will kill of any bacteria that the egg whites may have. Either way, please don’t let egg whites be the thing that scares you away from this delicious cocktail.

This is your sign to order this on your next night out or even if you are wanting to play bartender on your own at home. You don’t have to be a professional bartender to shake up this luscious beverage, so this is the time to experiment. This delicious cocktail is wonderful no matter what the season is — so here’s your opportunity!

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Want to learn other whiskey cocktails? Try this useful whiskey sour recipe book