National Whiskey Sour Day

Here’s to the simple things in life. The things that bring us great joy while requiring very little on our part. Like stretching out in your favorite recliner, gathering with friends and family, sitting with a pet, or whipping up a whiskey sour on National Whiskey Sour Day!

And seeing as today is, in fact, National Whiskey Sour Day, we’re going to focus on that last one.

The Whiskey Sour is all about flavor balance. The drink is very simple—just whiskey, some fresh lemon juice, sugar, and water.

The idea here is to use just enough lemon to make a counterpoint to the whiskey, and just enough sugar to take the edge off the lemon.

Another option is to add an egg white. The practice of adding egg to sours has been around nearly as long as the sour itself, although it’s not as popular in bars as it once was. The egg white softens and blends the lemon flavor, and smooths the drink’s texture on the tongue. You’ll often hear it described as “silky” by those who’ve indulged in this version before. Also, it puts a nice little frothy foam on the top of the drink

Interested?

We’ve collected a few Whiskey Sour recipes you can raise a glass to at home.

Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

• 2 oz whiskey
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ¾ oz simple syrup
• Cherry for garnish

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake well.
2. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and garnish with a cherry.

Summer Sour

Ingredients

• ½ oz Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• ¾ oz sweet vermouth
• ¼ oz tonic syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously for ten seconds.
2. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Boston Sour

Ingredients

• 2 oz whiskey
• 1 lemon’s juice
• 1 egg (egg white)
• 1 cherry
• Powdered Sugar to taste

Directions

1. Put the whiskey, lemon juice, egg white and powdered sugar in a shaker with ice and give it a couple of shakes.
2. Pour into a cocktail glass.
3. Pit the cherry and muddle it. Put the muddled cherry in the glass and enjoy!