The Evolution of The Whiskey Sour

First appearing in Jerry Thomas’ The Bartender’s Guide in 1862, the Whiskey Sour had been around decades earlier as a way to combat scurvy in sailors. Ships would stock up on citrus fruits on shore while the sailors brought liquors like rum or whiskey on board, so they had something safe to drink during months at sea. The citrus (typically lemon) was mixed with a liquor and water to create a drink that would not only quench thirst, but also effectively prevent the onset of scurvy.

Sailors spread the cocktail through port cities and it quickly became popular enough to be entered in The Bartender’s Guide, solidifying it as a true cocktail. Variations of the Whiskey Sour have sprung up over the years, but the two most popular are the Boston Sour and the New York Sour. The Boston Sour is the one with the egg white on top while the New York omits the egg in favor of topping it off with red wine.

Celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day with the recipes below!

Traditional Whiskey Sour (Boston Sour)

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon
• ¾ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• ½ oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white
• Garnish: Angostura bitters

Directions

1. Add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a shaker and dry-shake for 30 seconds without ice.
2. Add ice and shake again until well-chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass or a coupe.
4. Garnish with 3 or 4 drops of Angostura bitters.

New York Sour

Ingredients

• 2 oz rye whiskey or bourbon
• 1 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• ¾ oz simple syrup
• 1 egg white (optional)
• ½ oz red wine

Directions

1. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white (optional) into a shaker with ice and shake hard until well-chilled.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
3. Slowly pour the red wine over the back of a bar spoon so that the wine floats on top of the drink.

Spiced Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

• 1 oz water
• ½ tsp Five-spiced powder
• 1 ½ oz lemon juice
• 3 oz bourbon
• sugar to taste
• ice
• fresh lemon rinds as garnish

Directions

1. Put sugar and water in a microwave-safe bowl and dissolve the sugar using a microwave.
2. Add five spice powder and let it cool.
3. With your cocktail shaker filled with ice, mix together the sugar syrup, lemon juice and bourbon.
4. Strain and serve in a chilled glass. Garnish if desired.

Rattle Snake Sour

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. blended whiskey
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• ¼ tsp. absinthe (or anise-flavored liqueur)
• ½ tsp. simple syrup (or powdered sugar)
• 1 egg white

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients with ice and shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker until rich and frothy.
2. Strain into a cocktail glass and serve.

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