drink · Drink

How to Make a Whiskey Sour

Name: How to Make a Whiskey Sour
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 2 oz whiskey; 1 oz fresh lemon juice; 3/4 oz simple syrup; 1 maraschino cherry; 1 orange slice

A proper whiskey sour balances 2 ounces of bourbon or rye whiskey with 1 ounce fresh lemon juice and 3/4 ounce simple syrup. Shake hard with ice, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a cherry and orange slice. The key is using fresh lemon juice and shaking vigorously to create that signature foam.

Total time: 10 min
Hands-on: 10 min
Serves: 1
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

2 oz whiskey
1 oz fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 maraschino cherry
1 orange slice

Step by step

Make simple syrup if needed. Combine equal parts sugar and hot water, stir until dissolved. Let cool completely. This keeps in the fridge for weeks.
Juice the lemon. Roll the lemon on the counter while pressing down to break the membranes inside. Cut in half and juice by hand or with a citrus reamer. Strain out any pulp and seeds.
Add ingredients to shaker. Pour 2 ounces whiskey, 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 ounce simple syrup into a cocktail shaker. Use bourbon for sweetness or rye for spice.
Add ice and shake hard. Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Seal and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. You want to hear the ice really moving around in there.
Strain into glass. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice. Strain the cocktail through the built-in strainer or use a fine-mesh strainer for an even smoother drink.
Garnish and serve. Drop in a maraschino cherry and slide an orange slice onto the rim. Some bartenders add both to a cocktail pick.

Tips & troubleshooting

Never use bottled lemon juice. The fresh stuff makes all the difference.
Shake longer than you think you need to. The vigorous shaking creates the natural foam that sits on top.
Taste your simple syrup ratio. Some prefer 1:1, others like a slightly drier 2:3 ratio.
Chill your glass in the freezer for a few minutes before serving.
If the drink tastes too sweet, add a few drops more lemon juice. Too tart? Add more simple syrup.

Variations

New York Sour. Float a small amount of red wine on top by pouring slowly over the back of a bar spoon
Boston Sour. Add one egg white to the shaker before shaking to create a thick, creamy foam on top
Amaretto Sour. Replace the whiskey with amaretto and reduce the simple syrup to 1/2 ounce
Gold Rush. Use honey syrup instead of simple syrup for a richer, more complex sweetness

Questions

What type of whiskey works best?: Bourbon gives you a sweeter, smoother drink while rye whiskey adds spice and bite. Both work perfectly. Avoid anything too expensive since you're mixing it.
Can I make this without simple syrup?: You can use regular sugar, but it won't dissolve completely in cold liquid. Shake extra hard or muddle the sugar with the lemon juice first.
How do I get the foam on top without egg white?: Hard shaking with ice creates natural foam from the citrus and syrup. The colder and more vigorous your shake, the better the foam.
Why does my drink taste watery?: You're either shaking too long or your ice is melting too fast. Use large, solid ice cubes and shake for no more than 20 seconds.