Whiskey Sour

Creamy, frothy, lemony, with a touch of sweetness. Whiskey Sour is my favorite cocktail of all time! This bold two-ounce drink goes down smooth and will leave you with a smile from ear to ear. Including detailed instructions plus tips for choosing the perfect whiskey, your inner mixologist is moments from surfacing.

This cocktail is my favorite way to wind down at the end of a busy week. That gorgeous meringue-like foam, the freshly squeezed lemon, and, of course, bourbon. It’s a combination sent straight from the heavens!

I garnished mine with a charred wheel of lemon, a cherry, and a few drops of Angostura bitters. Let’s be honest, here. The only garnish that adds any type of substance is the cherry. As a food blogger, I feel as though it’s my duty to be completely extra with garnish. It’s hard to photograph drinks, okay? I need something… ANYTHING to catch your eye. Add these garnishes if you’d like to impress guests. Otherwise, this recipe is wonderful all on its own.

Ingredients in whiskey sour

Scroll up and click the “Jump to the Recipe” button at the top of the page or keep scrolling down to the recipe card for ingredient amounts and instructions. I promise all the text you see along the way will be helpful!

• Bourbon – I used Bulleit bourbon. Use your favorite brand!
• Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed or bottled.
• Simple syrup – Check out the section below to learn how to make your own.
• Egg white – From a carton or a freshly cracked egg.

How to make simple syrup

I always keep a bottle of simple syrup handy in my fridge. You can use it to sweeten not just cocktails, but any iced drinks. Gone are the days of desperately stirring to dissolve granulated sugar into a cooling beverage! One quick twirl of your straw and this syrup will be completely mixed through.

1. Add equal parts sugar and water to a saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Stir often until the sugar has completely dissolved; 2-3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
3. Allow the syrup to cool for 5-10 minutes before using it. Transfer the syrup to a bottle and store it in the fridge for up to 6 months.

How to make a whiskey sour

1. Dry shake: Add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Secure the lid and shake well for 20-30 seconds.
2. Wet shake & strain: Add the ice to the shaker, secure the lid, and shake for another 20-30 seconds. Strain the drink into a rocks glass or a coupe glass.
3. OPTIONAL: Garnish with a wheel of lemon*, cherry, and/or a few drops of Angostura bitters.

What type of whiskey should I use?

A classic whiskey sour is made with bourbon whiskey. The smooth finish with an essence of vanilla is perfectly paired with the creamy sip of this cocktail. However, this is not the time to whip out your 20-year single barrel bourbon! Your best bet is to grab a decent, middle-of-the-range bourbon that you enjoy.

Looking to try some different flavor profiles in your whiskey sour? Try scotch for a smokey finish, or rye for a bit of spice.

To egg white or not to egg white

“Raw egg white in a drink? Are you insane?!” I may be a little nuts for other reasons, but certainly not for my love of frothy egg white in my sour. This is the traditional way to shake up a whiskey sour. If you really don’t want to use egg white, you can leave it out. Curious? Keep reading and I think I’ll be able to convince you to try it out.

You may already know this fun fact, but the danger of getting sick from raw eggs comes from the bacteria on the outside of the shell. The egg inside is safe to eat! Pasteurized eggs are a great way to ensure you won’t get sick:

How to pasteurize eggs: Add the eggs to a pot of lukewarm water. Keep a thermometer in the pot, and gently bring the heat up to 140F. Keep the water at this temperature for 5 minutes, then you’re all done! Make sure it does not go higher than 145F or you may cook those eggs. Any bacteria will be dead and gone.

So, give those egg whites a try! The layer of foam on top of your drink, the creamy body your cocktail is blessed with; it’s so worth it.

Enjoy your drink alongside one of these meals:

• Turkey Chili
• Tortellini Soup
• Oven Baked BBQ Ribs
• Chicken and Shiitake Coconut Curry
• One Pan Herb Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
• Baked Mac and Cheese

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