Whiskey sour. A classic, American cocktail that is a nice balance between a full-flavored liquor and a citrus-based mixer. The oldest historical mention of a whiskey sour comes from a newspaper published in Wisconsin in 1870.
The whiskey sour is a mixed drink containing whiskey (often Bourbon, though the choice is entirely up to the bartender and consumer), lemon juice, sugar, and optionally, a dash of egg white. It’s shaken and served either straight up or over ice. The traditional garnish calls for half an orange slice and a maraschino cherry (here I go again with cherries).
When done correctly, this is a very outstanding go-to beverage. Now, some bars will use sour mix. I consider this a big no-no. To get a proper whiskey sour, mix fresh lemon juice and simple syrup with the whiskey. Sour mixes are often made of fake ingredients — maybe I’m a snob, but I like to eat real food and in the same vein, I prefer my drinks to be as fresh and real as possible. You have less of a chance of a headache later, too, which is a nice bonus.
If you’ve never tried this cocktail, do so! It might become one of your favorites.
Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces whiskey
- 1 1/2 ounces lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- Maraschino cherry & half an orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Pour the whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
- Shake well.
- Strain into a chilled sour glass or over ice in an old fashioned glass (your choice).
- Garnish with the cherry and orange slice.
Simple Syrup Recipe:
Step 1: Ingredients. The classic simple syrup ratio is 1 part water to 1 part sugar. If you want to make it in bulk, it’s easy to keep around short term. A simple ratio is 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water.
Step 2: Boil. To make the simple syrup, combine your desired amounts of sugar and water together in a small saucepan. Bring this to a boil. It’ll be grainy at first, and then cloudy. Then you can cool it and mix with your drinks.
