If You Want Spice But Hate Rye: Four Roses
Four Roses is a classic cocktail-mixing bourbon. Its smooth and sweet, yes. But it also has a nice bundle of spices and a bit of a bite, so it wont be overwhelmed by the other flavors.
A good smooth, warm, corn-heavy bourbon. Notes of cherries, apple with honey and orange with lemon, followed by oaky cinnamon. The perfect pair for a sour. If youre looking for spice and kick without rye, this is an excellent option!
Making A Whiskey Sour
Despite being one of the most flavoursome cocktails around, the Whiskey Sour contains surprisingly few ingredients. All you will need is:
- 60 ml Whiskey
- 1 to 2 Tbsp Egg White
To make a whiskey sour:
Although egg white is a traditional ingredient in the Whiskey Sour, it is rarely used today in bars due to the concerns that some people have about drinking raw egg. However, it is worth adding as it gives the cocktail a velvety texture and softens the flavour of the lemon. The egg also gives the cocktail a distinctive foamy top. Avoid the temptation to use anything other than freshly squeezed lemon juice, as it is an essential part of a Whiskey Sour.
Punch Is Probably Its Poppa
If you think about it, a Whiskey Sour is really just a mini single-serve version of a traditional punch recipe: booze, citrus and sweetener, plus dilution. Think about it in the reverse: Could you take the bourbon, simple syrup and citrus and supersize it? Why, yes. Its like the liquid version of a palindrome, or something like that. Lets contemplate it over a Whiskey Sour, shall we?
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Can I Make This In Advance
This is a cocktail that should be served immediately after its shaken, so should not be made in advance. But if you want to serve this cocktail to guests, you could always juice the lemons ahead of time and keep the juice chilled in the fridge. This will speed up the cocktail making after your guests arrive!
It Doesnt Have To Have Egg White
You can make a Whiskey Sour sans the protein, and no one will take you to task under the flag of imbibing blasphemy. However, lets go crazy and put ourselves on the line and proclaim, Its better with an egg white! Its so frothy and so wonderful, and yet it has no taste to it, says McCoy. Its all about the texture and aesthetics.
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History Of The Whiskey Sour
Citrus has long been added to drinks, a practice that probably began as 18th-century sailors crossed long sea voyages for months at a time.
On ships in the 1700s, there was no safe way to store food or water for months at sea. To avoid scurvy , boats often carried limes and lemons. Ships also carried rum. You can see where Im going here
Mixing rum, citrus, and water was a great way to stay healthy, hydrated, and scurvy free!
When the sailors disembarked, they carried this recipe with them and expanded it to more readily available liquors like whiskey, brandy, and eventually bourbon. With the advent of the railroad, suddenly fresh citrus fruit could be widely available quickly. Areas all across America had access to all the best and freshest ingredients.
Thus, the elegant Whiskey Sour rose to popularity as bourbon was hitting full swing.
Unfortunately, Prohibition knocked Whiskey Sour off its horse. With good alcohol at a premium, most bars only had illicit drams made with low-quality ingredients. They just werent equipped for subtle, simple cocktails.
Its taken several decades for the Whiskey Sour to recover. World War II followed Prohibition. In the 1960s it achieved a brief peak.
And then we were hit with the horror that is bottled cocktail mixes. Sickly sweet and seriously sour, no serious drinker in their right mind would dare risk one of those on their nice whiskey!
Best Whiskey For A Sour
You can use whatever whiskey you like for a sour, but we have some favorite types. Heres what wed recommend adding to the sour mix:
- Bourbon: Our top pick! The sweet flavor of bourbon whiskey is ideal
- Jameson Irish whiskey: Jameson is very mild and has less of a whiskey burn
- Rye whiskey: Rye whiskey has a spicy burn on the finish
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Wild Turkey Straight Rye
When it comes to consistency, Wild Turkey has a definite claim to the crown, being made by father-son duo Jimmy and Eddie Russell, who have been at the company for 66 years and 39 years respectively. In fact, Jimmy is the oldest and longest-serving Master Distiller in America. Fresh and spicy, this is an excellent mixing rye, with a dry palate of fennel, pepper, rye bread, vanilla and toffee. Alc 40.5%
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The Best Whiskies For A Whisky Sour
The sour category of cocktails is arguably the most popular of any mixed drinks, containing as it does the Whisky Sour, Margarita and Daiquiri. Theres something magical about a delicious base spirit being simply mixed with sugar and citrus juice to create a lip-smacking, thirst-quenching whole.
As with most cocktails of a certain age, the exact origins of the Whisky Sour have been lost to history, however its thought that the sour category of cocktails has its roots in the British Navy. With water and beer not fit for consumption on long sea journeys, the men were given a standard issue of rum in the 18th century.
In order to combat drunkenness, which was a big problem in the West Indies, Commander in Chief Vice Admiral Edward Vernon declared the following in 1740:
To captains of the squadron! The daily allowance of half a pint a man is to be mixed with a quart of water, to be mixed in one scuttled butt for that purpose it is to be served in two servings, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The men that are good husbands may from the savings of their salt provisions and bread, purchase sugar and limes to make the water more palatable to them.
Rum, sugar, lime juice and water here we have the ingredients of a Daiquiri, and the construct of a Sour. This rough mix came to be called Grog.
One of the most popular twists on a Whisky Sour is to simply add egg white to the recipe. Known as a Boston Sour, the egg white creates a silky mouthfeel.
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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 you’re 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 you’ve 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 ‘drunken cherries’ that have been previously soaked in liquor to add an extra kick to the drink.
Whiskey Sour Classic Aka Without Getting Eggs Involved
- 2 oz. Irish or Canadian whiskey
- 0.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz. simple syrup
Add all ingredients to a shaker tin. Add ice, seal tins and shake hard for 6 to 10 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass, and garnish with an orange slice, or cherry, or both.
If you dont want to get eggs involved, you dont have tothe cocktail still benefits enormously from simply using fresh ingredients and measuring them so theyre balanced against each other.
The only thing Id note is that theres nothing here to bind to the tannins, so choose a whiskey that doesnt have that many. Both Canadian and Irish whiskies are perfect candidates for thisCrown Royal, Seagrams VO, Jameson or Tullamore D.E.W. or the like. Aim for 40 percent and avoid too much agebasically the budget end of the spectrum is ideal.
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Try The Best Whisky Sour Recipe On World Whisky Day
Some describe it as an after-dinner pleasure, others a sturdy wake-up call. Whatever your opinion, you cant deny the Whisky Sour cocktail is one of the worlds most iconic and classic barroom innovations. But have you ever tried to make one yourself? Well, this Saturday, May 16 might just be your perfect excuse to test out your skills. World Whisky Day is upon us again and it marks the ideal occasion to bust out the barware and step into the cocktail kitchen. To help you from making a mess and wasting the good stuff, the team at Man of Many have put together the best Whisky Sour recipe youll find anywhere.
Almost all of us have heard the name Whisky Sour before, some may have ever given it a crack in the past, but the drink is making a serious comeback of late, and of course, its all Leonardo DiCaprios fault. In the early scenes of Quentin Tarantino Oscar-winning film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, we see DiCaprios suave and stylish Rick Dalton settle into a bar seat with his good friend/stunt double Cliff Booth and a feverishly good looking Whisky Sour. Its true, we see Dalton indulge in perhaps a few too many cocktails of varying poisons and palates, but the Sour is his go-to and it should be yours too. While we arent advocating you to start filling steins worth of cocktails as Dalton does, we do want to give you the tools to make the best Whisky Sour any at-home mixologist can.
If You Want A Smoky Whiskey Sour
Scotch is the obvious choice for a smoky Whiskey Sour. But you probably dont want to part with two precious ounces of your favorite single malt. Go for a blended scotch instead. Famous Grouseusually less than $20is a great option. While it doesnt approach the same level of intensity as an Islay single malt, it still gives the drink a smoky punch.
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Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Bourbon
The bourbon moniker refers to any American whiskey with a mash bill of at least 51% corn and, contrary to popular belief, they dont need to hail from the state of Kentucky, which is popularly considered the epicenter of bourbon production. When it comes to whiskey sours, beverage director Randy Hayden of The Roof At Ponce City Market in Atlanta selects a Texas-born bourbon, explaining that Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Bourbon is predominantly Texas corn with loads of Texas wheat, creating a truly unique and delicious product. I love making whiskey sours with Treaty Oak Ghost Hill mostly because of its unique range of flavors. I like to add 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters to my Ghost Hill Sour as well.
It Responds Well To Riffs
Those elements of sweet, sour and silky create an eternal nest of newly hatched ideas, like Tim Wiggins use of falernum and grapefruit liqueur in his version at Retreat Gastropub and Yellowbelly in St. Louis. 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.
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Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
While high-proof bourbons can prove challenging to integrate into a cocktail like a whiskey sour, certain distilleries produce renditions with both an adaptable flavor profile and plenty of potency. Case in point: Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, a 94-proof whiskey favored by managing partner Lucinda Sterling of Middle Branch in New York City, who insists that when making whiskey sours, I always prefer using Elijah Craig. It has a high proof, but also a particularly sweet finish that helps the cocktail move away from the drier mouthfeel of the egg white.
Why Make This Whiskey Sour Recipe
I wasnt a whiskey sour fan until the drink was introduced to our family by Alexs step-father, Joe. Joe is 1,000% passionate about this sweet tart drink. When hes entertaining, hell always ask: Want a whiskey sour? So of course over the years, this drink has become the standard for festive family get-togethers.
In honor of Joes 50th birthday, we created this an all natural whiskey sour recipe as an alternative to the store-bought mix he usually buys. This recipe uses maple syrup and fresh lemon juice, and truly makes for the very best whiskey sour recipe! Joe started serving it often, and it was a hit with cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncle alike. Now when our family gets together, youll see a big jug of maple syrup and a ton of lemons on the counter. Want to try out our family recipe?
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Four Roses Yellow Label
This unique and complex whiskey is actually a blend of ten different recipes. While it is a blend, all recipes included are different Kentucky straight bourbons, so they do have something in common.
Each of the blends is distilled and aged separately at the Four Roses Distillery. Doing everything in-house gives the company full control over this complex blend.
The Four Roses Yellow Label offers quite the flavor profile, lending itself nicely to an especially spicy whiskey sour without the need for rye.
The palate is smooth and sweet on the surface, with several spices and a good bite in the middle. The flavor is heavy on the corn with sweeter notes of cherry, apple, honey, orange, and lemon.
The most notable spice on the palate is oaky cinnamon. The aroma offers a simpler array of honey, poached pears, and fresh apples.
Russells Reserve 10 Year Bourbon Whiskey
When enjoying a whiskey sour, I usually prefer bourbon whiskey, specifically Russells Reserve 10 Year Bourbon. In my humble opinion, it has a lot of character for a bourbon and carries itself well in a cocktail such as a whiskey sour where you have sugar and lemon battling for your taste buds. If the bourbon is too hot or the bourbon is too mellow, it can either overpower or become lost in the cocktail. Also, if Im the one drinking it, better be made with fresh lemon, demerara simple syrup, an egg white, and 6 drops of Angostura bitters on the egg white, served up, chief mixologist Mark Beyer of Saltine in Norfolk, VA says of his whiskey sour preferences.
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To Egg White Or Not To Egg White
Have you ever seen that amazing layer of foam resting gently at the top of a cocktail? Yeah, you can thank egg white for that. To some, using raw egg whites in a cocktail is a novel concept .
Bartenders use egg whites in cocktails, like the whiskey sour, to give it a rich, creamy texture along with a smooth head of foam. To stay on the idea of fresh ingredients, use organic eggs . If youre curious about it altering the flavor, just know that egg white is flavorless. It also helps to reduce the acidity from the citrus and bind the flavors together. It enhances the presentation of your whiskey sour, too. Remember, were not settling for anything less than an ooh! from you and from your guest.
If you still feel like shaking up your cocktail with raw egg white is just too much to stomach, then feel free to leave it out!
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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The 8 Best Whiskeys For Making A Whiskey Sour Cocktail
byDecember 7, 2021, 8:47 am12.2k Views
Whiskey sour is an elegant and sweet-tasting cocktail classic. Although they can vary, most whiskey sours contain a frothy egg white to give the drink a creamier texture, freshly squeezed citrus juice, and a little dash of syrup.
Whiskey sours and classical beverages like it can be tailored to suit any taste. There are quite a few ways to make a whiskey sour and finding out which method suits you best can be quite the experience.
Maybe you want egg white or maybe you dont. Maybe you want it on the rocks with a cherry or with no cherry up against the rocks.
Of course, most importantly is the type of whiskey you use.
The whiskey you choose can significantly change the flavor profile of this classic cocktail.
Selecting the right whiskey with the correct balance can transform your cocktail from something vapid into something extraordinary.
To help you tailor your whiskey sour according to your taste, we have rounded up the best whiskeys for whiskey sours in 2021.
With advice from expert bartenders, you will be able to find a whiskey that can change your cocktail game for good.