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Sours · Whiskey IBA official

Whiskey Sour

Bourbon, lemon and sugar, with a little egg white for foam if you like. Tart, round and easy to adjust.

Strength
≈ 13% ABV
Calories
≈ 168
Glass
Coupe
Method
Shaken

The recipe

How to make it

  1. 1Chill a coupe, or fill a rocks glass with ice.
  2. 2Shake everything with ice; shake longer and harder if you use egg white.
  3. 3Strain into the coupe, or over the ice.

Garnish: Half an orange slice and a cherry, or orange peel.

The ratio

2¼ : 1¼ : 1

In parts, a Whiskey Sour is 2¼ whiskey, 1¼ lemon and 1 syrup. Change one part and you have a cousin; the closest are below.

Find the Whiskey Sour on the ratio map →

Built the same way

Whiskey → Cachaça

Caipirinha

2 : 1 : ¾

Whiskey → Tequila

Tommy’s Margarita

2 : 1 : 1

Also whiskey

Brown Derby

2 : 1 : 1

Whiskey → Gin

Eastside

2 : 1 : ¾

Head to head

On screen

Cocktails in movies and TV →

More Sours

  • Amaretto Sour — Amaretto and lemon shaken with egg white into a foamy, almond-sweet sour.
  • Aviation — Gin and lemon sweetened with maraschino, with a spoonful of crème de violette for its pale sky color and floral edge.
  • Bee’s Knees — Gin softened with honey and brightened with lemon and orange. A gentle, rounded sour.
  • Between the Sheets — Cognac and white rum with triple sec and lemon: a Sidecar with a second spirit. Strong and orange-scented.
  • Bourbon Renewal — A bourbon sour with crème de cassis and a dash of bitters, shaken and poured over ice: tart, dark-fruited and easy.
  • Bramble — A gin sour over crushed ice with blackberry liqueur drizzled through it, bleeding purple as it sinks.

All 61 Sours →

By the numbers

Estimated per drink, as served

Calories

≈ 168

Sugar

≈ 13 g

Strength

≈ 13%

Std. drinks

≈ 1.1

Bourbon ≈ 112Simple syrup ≈ 48Lemon juice ≈ 6Egg white ≈ 3 How we estimate