Bourbon Whiskey Sour co*cktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for the sour co*cktail? ›

Both a whiskey sour and an old-fashioned co*cktail are made with whiskey—and that's the only similarity really. A whiskey sour balances the whiskey with lemon juice and sugar or simple syrup, while an old-fashioned is stronger, more spirit forward, and made with bitters and a sugar cube.

Bourbon Is Best

If you love rye whiskey in your sour, go for it. But there's something about the softer, vanilla and caramel notes of bourbon that does the drink right. “With rye, there's more spice,” says McCoy.

Sour co*cktails: It's All About Balance

Sour co*cktails include citrus juice and are nearly always shaken vigorously to best emulsify, chill, and aerate the ingredients. A golden ratio sour co*cktail must include 2 parts something alcoholic, 1 part something sour, and . 75-1 part something sweet.

Remembering a ratio is so much easier than trying to recall you need 1¾ ounces of this and 2 ounces of that. The 3-2-1 ratio for perfectly balanced whiskey sours is a simple formula that requires nothing more complicated than remembering the following mantra: 3 parts spirits, 2 parts sour, 1 part sweet.

You can make a perfectly lovely Whiskey Sour by sticking to the original recipe of just whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar. These three ingredients balance each other beautifully. But if you want to take your Whiskey Sour to the next level, add an egg white.

Whiskey: Bourbon is the whiskey traditionally used in a classic whiskey sour, with its warm vanilla and brown sugar flavor notes. We strongly recommend using a mid-range, high-proof bourbon (between 43-50% ABV) so that its flavor does not get drowned out by the other ingredients.

Specifically, Crown Royal is a Canadian whisky, and even though this technically uses a bourbon mashbill (64% corn, 31.5% rye, 4.5% malted barley), bourbon can only be made in America. Though the TTB originally approved the label, they reversed their decision and forced the brand to stop using the name 'Bourbon Mash'.

Dating all the way back to the 1800s, a Whisky Sour is about as classic a co*cktail as you can get. If you're a Whisky Sour sipper, it's likely that you are very complex; you tend to have many different - sometimes opposing - personality traits and are extremely adaptable in social situations.

Is a whiskey sour a man's drink? ›

Whiskey Sour co*cktail's Story

In the 1700 and 1800's the Whiskey Sour was a popular drink among sailors, earning the co*cktail its well-appointed nick name “the best a man could drink”.

The Amaretto Sour is a popular twist on the classic whisky sour. The nutty and marzipan flavours of the amaretto add an extra dimension to this great tasting and balanced co*cktail. Bartender Tip: The Sour is a very versatile co*cktail for twisting.

Wrong ratio of sweetness, acidity and whisky

This may be because the balance between acidity, sweetness and strength is not quite right. To avoid this common mistake, there is a simple but promising strategy: The 3-2-1 rule. It is used in many co*cktails, especially the sours.

Egg white contains proteins that emulsify when it's shaken up. This traps little pockets of air, which gives a drink like the Whisky Sour a very silky meringue-like texture that adds some lovely body to a co*cktail without changing the taste thereof.

Lemons or limes were added to the drink to prevent scurvy, which was common among sailors,1 and water and sugar were added for taste. Today, you can buy a premade whiskey sour mix. The only problem with these powdered or bottled sour mixes is that they come with a whole lot of sugar.

The 2-1-1 co*cktail Formula

The ratio refers to 2 ounces of spirit, 1 ounce of sweet, and 1 ounce of sour. Here we've provided examples of each element, but keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive: Spirits: Aperol, campari, gin, mezcal, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, wine, etc.

There's definitely a formula, My basic ratio for any co*cktail is usually 2 part of alcohol, to one of tart, to one part of sweet. The formula for achieving this balance is 2:1:1. That's basically 2 parts alcohol, 1-part sour, and 1-part sweet.

Almost all the classic drinks you know and love, from the Daiquiri to the Gimlet or the Margarita come down to the same basic ratio: 2:1:1. That's two parts spirit, one part sweet, and one part sour, commonly known as the Golden Ratio.

Two parts base spirit to one part sweet to one part sour. Let's take it one step at a time. Start with your base spirit. It can be any of your main categories of liquor—whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.