A classic whiskey sour is one of the easiest and most satisfying cocktails you can make at home. With just bourbon, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice, it strikes the perfect balance of bright, sweet and tart. Add an egg white and the drink becomes silky, frothy and bar-like.
Hi, I’m Eddie — a guest mixer here Panning The Globe. For the past few years I have been experimenting with traditional cocktails at home, experimenting with different ratios, techniques and ingredients to recreate the world’s greatest drinks in the comfort of home. Favorites include the paper plane and the boulevardier, just to name a couple.
When was the last time you had a glass of whiskey? For decades I associated this drink with the sweet versions that appeared at weddings and family events when I was younger.
I wasn’t alone, apparently. After gaining popularity in the 1950s and ’60s, whiskey sours began to decline in the ’70s with the idea of cheap whiskey, bottled sours and fluorescent maraschino cherries. It wasn’t until the 2000s, with the revival of creative cocktails that this drink regained its popularity.
I was at a friend’s dinner five years ago and I was served a whiskey drink. The thought of it almost made me laugh after all those years, but why? It turned out to be refreshing and delicious. I knew I had to learn how to make a wonderful whiskey bitter to add to my repertoire.
So I went into my usual lab mode and produced a dozen or so versions over the course of a few weeks, honing and tweaking, before settling on what I thought was best for serving guests. I am now happy to share my whiskey recipe on Panning the Globe.
Whiskey Sour Ratio (Perfect Cocktail Formula)
The ideal whiskey sour ratio is:
- 2 parts bourbon
- 1 part fresh lemon juice
- 1 part simple syrup
- ½ part egg white (optional)
How This Whiskey Sour Recipe Works
- Perfect balance of bourbon, lemon and sweetness
- The egg white creates a smooth and fluffy foam
- It uses fresh lemon juice to brighten it up
- Simple ratios make two drinks at the same time
What I learned along the way
You don’t need an expensive bourbon for a great whiskey sour. Once the bourbon is mixed with maple syrup and simple syrup, the mild flavors are lost. After trying several price points including Woodford Reserve and Blanton’s, I decided my favorite for this restaurant was Mark’s Maker – smooth, balanced and affordable.
Short answer: yes. Egg white does not add flavor, but it does improve the texture of the drink. When shaken, it creates a soft foam that makes the cocktail smooth and elegant. If white egg whites make you nervous, skip it – the cocktail will still be delicious. In fact, egg whites were not part of the original recipe, which dates back to the 1860s.
Several recipes I reviewed called for a “dry shake” (ie without ice) to add emulsification and froth to the drinks before adding ice and shaking again. I had to double check – hard rocking? There is nothing hard about a hard rock. Basically everything is wet. But whatever, I love it!
Yes. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me. Make your own new rims for the best results, 100%.
Luxardo is mine or nothing at all. This is where you can spend your savings on bourbon!
My ratios make it easier to do two drinks at a time than one. In particular, I use half an egg white for drinks and it turns out to be a challenge trying to figure out how much half an egg white is and measure it in the shaker. However it is even more fun to have this drink with a friend, lover or date!
This drink can be served neat in a chilled glass or coupe, but I like it with a large ice cube in a tumbler. My thoughts are simple: I want to enjoy this cocktail over time without fear that if I sign it too soon, it will lose its coolness.
How to make whiskey bitter
Here is a quick summary of the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for full details.
- Measure the liquids in a cocktail shaker (makes two). – 4 oz bourbon, 2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 oz simple syrup, 1 egg white.
- Dry shake! – close the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds to emulsify the ingredients. The contents of your shaker will look very frothy at this point.
- Add ice and shake again to cool – another 10-15 seconds.
- Strain into two glasses – either coupes or serving neat or ice-filled tumblers or on the rocks
- Add garnish(s) – maraschino cherries, orange peel or wedges, etc.
I have a habit of asking my dinner guests to place their drink orders on the way to my house and a friend told me recently that if I made him one of my desserts every time he came over that would be perfect.
If you’re looking for more bourbon drinks, be sure to check out all of our bourbon recipes.
If you try this whiskey sour recipe, I hope you will come back to leave stars and feedback. Lisa and I want to know what you think!
Recipe
Whiskey Sour Recipe
Explanation
This classic Whiskey Sour Cocktail combines bourbon, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup for the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Optional egg white creates a silky texture and a nice foam, making this an easy bar-quality cocktail you can shake at home.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- 1 egg white (optional)
- Ice
- Maraschino cherries and/or orange peels, to garnish
Instructions
- Pour the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) into a cocktail shaker.
- Cover and shake vigorously without ice for 10-15 seconds to create a foam (this is called a “dry shake”).
- Add ice and shake again for 10-15 seconds to cool.
- Strain into two coupe glasses, or over two ice-filled mugs if working on rocks.
- Garnish each drink with a raschino cherry, orange peel, or both
Notes
- Simple syrup: Mix equal parts of sugar and water and heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in a small bag, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Cool before using.
- Cherries: Luxardo maraschino cherries are the best. If you can’t find them, try Bada Bing cherries.
- Bourbon: Designer Mark and Bulleit are great choices.
- Ice: I recommend these large ice cube molds
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
