What Is Whiskey Sour Made Of

Does Sour Mash Make Whiskey Taste Sour

No, the sour mash process does not make whiskey taste sour. This distillation process causes most major bourbon whiskey products to have strong flavors of caramel, vanilla, spices, and oak.

Jack Daniel, the most famous Tennessee whiskey labeled as sour mash, has the initial tasting notes of vanilla, walnut, corn, and banana. It has a soft and smooth palate with some traces of cinnamon and smoke.

Dont Forget To Garnish The Cocktail

A garnish should always add something to a cocktail. Whether visual appeal or an aromatic quality, both factors are important to consider. If you opt for the common Whiskey Sour with an egg white, the garnish is crucial.

An egg white cocktail that sits for a few minutes without any aromatic element develops notes of sulfur from the eggs. To avoid having an eggy-smelling Whiskey Sour, there are a few garnish options worth considering. Usually I like to do some wild Angostura bitters dashes or drawings on top of the egg white froth to ‘wow’ the guest, says Rio. But anything from an orange or lemon twist, to a couple cherries or a dehydrated slice of citrus would do.

It really comes down to your flavor preference, but the garnish is essential and will add the aromatic element that is necessary to complete your perfect Whiskey Sour.

Is It Safe To Drink Whisky Sour

Traditionally a whisky sour will have a raw egg white mixed in to give the drink a silkier texture and frothy top. My whiskey sour recipe does not include an egg, which is why it doesnt look as creamy as a traditional whiskey sour. But it is every bit as delicious and I highly recommend giving it a try! One can never have too many easy cocktail recipes to make at home. Options people, its all about options.

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Why Add High Proof Bourbon

Morgenthalers improved Amaretto Sour adds three quarters of an ounce of cask-strength bourbon. This is whiskey at its strongest, undiluted or only diluted slightly.

The reason for adding this whiskey is twofold: increase the alcohol content of the cocktail, and increase the flavor of the amaretto liqueur.

High proof whiskey is bursting with complementary flavors and it helps the gentler flavors of the amaretto stand out. If you havent purchased this variety of whiskey before, pick up a bottle of inexpensive and versatile Wild Turkey 101.

How To Make A Classic Whiskey Sour

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A classic whiskey sour is prepared in two steps: first, make the sour mix, and then the drink itself. The sour mix is generally comprised of two parts water, one part lemon juice, and one part white sugar. If youâre taking your time with it, you can boil the water and sugar first to create a simple syrup. Otherwise, thoroughly mix all three ingredients together, preferably in a cocktail shaker.

Once youâve made the sour mix, pour two parts of your favorite whiskey over ice, and top with the sour mix. Garnish with a maraschino cherry or a slice of fresh citrus fruit. I like to use âdrunken cherriesâ that have been previously soaked in liquor to add an extra kick to the drink.

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How To Make An Amaretto Whiskey Sour

The amaretto whiskey sour is just as easy as either of the two sour cocktails of its namesake. Heres what to do:

The technique above is a called a Dry Shake. The dry shake agitates the egg white in the cocktail shaker so that it forms the beautifully frothy foam topping. If youre not using an egg white, you can skip the shaking without ice and just shake it up like a normal cocktail.

The Best Whiskey Sour Ingredients

Bourbon: Choosing a bourbon for this cocktail shouldnt be difficult. I recommend a good value bottle, something in the price range of $15 to $25. Next time youre at a cocktail bar you like, ask the bartender which specific bottles of any given spirit they have in their well bar. This is a great way to find out whats good, both for your home bar and your budget.

Lemon juice: Next up, fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Ill say it again because this is so important: fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Gone are the days of using cheap mixes. If you want the absolute best whiskey sour you ever did taste in your life, then you need the real-deal fresh juice. Simple as that!

Simple syrup: For the sweetener, use a simple syrup . There are several whiskey sour recipes out there that call for a heaping bar spoon of sugar. Youre free to go this route, but simple syrup combines so much better, so I prefer and recommend this.

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More Easy Cocktail Recipes:

Prep Time: Total Time:

Made with bourbon whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup, this Whiskey Sour is a classic cocktail that’s easy to make. Just 3 ingredients and a few minutes is all you need to make this sweet tart drink!

• 2 ounces good quality bourbon whiskey
• 2 ounces fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 ounce simple syrup

The Best Whiskeys For Whiskey Sours In 2022

• Post category:Whiskey Mixology

Whiskey Advocate calls the Whiskey Sour the essential whiskey cocktail. Its universal simplicity and elegance are making a comeback.

Versatile and delicious, it has a long history and dates back to the very inception of mixology! Even better? Its so easy to make you can quite easily try it at home. And youll definitely be able to order it at any bar you visit. What goes best? Weve looked at five classic whiskeys that will change the flavor profile of your cocktail from bourbon to rye, to even smoky scotch!

Whether youre thinking of ordering it at your next happy hour or want to add it to your home cocktail bar, well give you a run-down of everything you need to know about Whiskey Sours.

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What Makes A Whiskey Sour Taste Sour

What does whiskey sour taste like? It has notes of caramel and vanilla from the whiskey, then a small amount of lemon as the sour component and its very lightly sweetened.

Are whiskey sours strong?

At its worst, the Whiskey Sour is a sickly-sweet mixed drink built in the glass. At its best, its the highest form of the sour cocktail family . The earliest printed recipe for the drink appeared in Jerry Thomas 1862 tome The Bartenders Guide.

Can you get sick from whiskey sour?

The sours drinks, which contain spirits like whiskey, gin or pisco, as well as lemon juice, syrup and ice, are mixed with raw egg white. Bartenders do this to give the drink a silkier texture and a frothy head on the top. But eggs can carry salmonella bacteria, which cause unpleasant food poisoning.

Why are Whisky sours so good?

Whiskey Sours are all about texture, and the weight of the two liqueurs makes a velvety cocktail thats the perfect balance of sweet and sour, says Wiggins. I look for velvety texture and good balance in a Whiskey Sour.

Old Forester 100 Proof

Bourbon tends to be the go-to for a classic whiskey sour. For a particularly strong one, you want Old Forester 100 Proof. It really packs a punch and wont lose its flavor in a cocktail. The palate is heavy on corn with notes of fruit, nuts, caramel, and maple syrup with a hint of spice and cinnamon.

The aroma offers sweet notes of caramel and cherry with oaky spice, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. The finish is spicy and complex, with cloves, oak, nutmeg, and pepper.

The bottle is printed with the signature of George Gavin Brown, Old Forester founder. This touch pays homage to the way he used to hand-sign each bottle as it was produced.

He and his co-founder/brother were one of the first to age their bourbon which they appropriately named Old Forester. Beginning in 1870, this is a classic whiskey thats been consistently on the market, even during the dreaded prohibition where the company was granted permission to distill for medicinal purposes.

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Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe

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This Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix recipe is perfect for making Whiskey Sour Cocktails and so much more! Made with fresh lemon and lime juice, sugar, and water, this sour recipe is a simple but essential craft drink staple.

Ready to channel your inner mixologist? Youll want to stock your bar with more homemade drink essentials like this Sour Mix, Simple Syrup, and Grenadine!

You cant have a bar without Sour Mix. For the best taste, skip the store-bought stuff and make your own instead!

This recipe is a must if you enjoy classic cocktails, whiskey-lemon juice concoctions, or fancy craft drinks! While its ideal as a Whiskey Sour mix recipe, its perfect for shaking up other drinks and cocktails, too.

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Sweet And Sour Mix Recipe

There are a few ways to make a fresh sour mix. They all begin with simple syrup, which is nothing more than sugar and water. These recipes can be adapted to suit your personal taste or the drinks youre making at the moment. You can also double or triple them to create a larger batch.

• Method 1: Make simple syrup by combining 1 cup each of sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 1 cup each fresh lemon juice and lime juice. Allow it to cool before bottling. Store it in the refrigerator.
• Method 2: Combine 1 cup each of sugar and water in a cocktail shaker or a bottle with a tight seal. Shake until the sugar is dissolved to create a simple syrup. Add 1 cup each of lemon and lime juices, bottle, and refrigerate.
• Method 3: Combine one part of pre-made simple syrup with one part lemon or lime juice . This makes a great last-minute sour mix if you already have the syrup in stock. Its also convenient when making a large batch of simple syrup because you can divide it to create sour mix at the same time.

No matter which method you choose, you can adjust the lemon and lime juice ratio to fit your specific taste. Some people prefer 1 cup lemon to 3/4 cup lime for general use.

Where Did The Whiskey Sour Come From

The first mention of the whiskey sour was in 1862 from The Bartenders Guide by Jerry Thomas. However, its likely that people were drinking whiskey sours long before this. Like so many spirits and cocktails, we can thank sailors for this delicious cocktail.

Traveling by sea was difficult in the 1800s. It was particularly difficult to find clean, fresh water on long voyages, making whiskey, rum and other spirits very popular with sailors. In addition to the lack of clean water, many sailors suffered from scurvy, a potentially fatal disease that was caused, in part, by a lack of vitamin C.

Enter the lemon.

Sailors would take huge amounts of lemons, limes and oranges on voyages. They would also bring alcohol, and the best alcohol was kept at room temperature, like whiskey and bourbon.

The whiskey sour was a perfect combination of citrus, to combat scurvy, and whiskey to quench the sailors thirst.

For years whiskey sours were enjoyed by sailors on the sea. Once it finally made it to the shores of the United States, its popularity continued. Bartenders today often add egg white to create the classic foam texture. Many variations have also been created over the years, the most famous of which is the New York Sour. The New York Sour is the classic whiskey sour, with a splash of red wine on top.

New York Sour

Because there are endless combinations of whiskey and citrus, we do not see this cocktail going away any time soon.

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All About Sour Mash Whiskey

Sour mash whiskeys combine the spent mash from a previous batch and a new mash to control the growth of bacteria that can alter the taste of the liquor. The old mash is a previously fermented mash containing dead yeast, a good food source for live yeast.

The name came from the sourdough starter or the mixture of flour and wheat, a method used to create bread.

How To Make A Whiskey Sour From Scratch

Place whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white in a cocktail shaker. Dont add in the ice just yet. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. This will incorporate the egg white properly. If you are making more than 1 drink, do not increase amount of egg whites, that is not necessary. 1 egg white will be enough for 2 drinks .

Add ice and shake again, for around 15 seconds more, this to chill the drink. Strain into a glass using a fine-mesh sieve. Garnish with a lemon slice and serve!

Serve immediately with a slice of lemon, and a marachino cherry if you feel like it, as thats the traditional way of serving it. I just have bad associations with these cherries, so I dont like them as decor. Its just me, not the cherry.

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Mix It Up With Egg Whites

Yes, egg whites!

If youre going straight traditional, ignore this part. Egg whites were never a part of the original sour recipe, but some bartenders in the 1800s wanted to make their cocktails even fancier. The answer was egg whites.

You dont need much, but they work to balance the sometimes harsh flavors of a whiskey sour while adding a creamy texture and leaving a pretty layer of white froth on top.

Making it with egg whites is easy just add a quarter ounce of egg whites to the other ingredients before mixing. Adding them at this stage not only blends them in well but it creates the fancy frothing effect.

The only difference may be in how you use the ice. Frothy egg whites and ice cubes may not work well together. Instead, consider shaking the mixture with ice and pouring it into an empty glass.

Some Ideas To Personalize Your Sour

Want to create your own riff on the whiskey sour? As weve mentioned before, with sour cocktails, you can make a change to the citrus and have a new drink. Try subbing out the lemon for grapefruit, blood oranges, or yuzu. Just remember, the less tart or sour the citrus, the less sugar youll use.

You can also change the sweetener. Change the sugar to honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup to personalize your drink. You can even add an herb like thyme, rosemary, or tarragon to kick it up. Just steep in your sweetener of choice along with equal parts water. Simmer for a few minutes on the stove and chill. Then, strain the solids and voilà!

Of course, one of the easiest way to change up the whiskey sour is to vary the whiskey. Bourbon, rye and Scotch whisky, all are fair game. We like ours with a little bit of a punch, so we look for 86 proof or higher. These bottles have treated us well in this endeavor:

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History Of The Whiskey Sour

The whiskey sour made its official debut in Jerry Thomas’ 1862 “The Bon Vivant’s Companion” , which was the first published bartending guide. However, you can trace the cocktail’s roots to a century before that.

In general, sour drinks were initially created to fight off scurvy among British Navy sailors during the 1700s. Most often, this meant adding lime to the rum rations . Not only did it ward off disease, the rum or gin helped preserve the perishable fruit juice on long voyages.

From there, the addition of a little sugar enhanced the citrus-liquor combination. The result was a more drinkable and very tasty beverage. These eventually became known as the sour family of drinks, which have remained popular the whiskey sour remains the most notable.