Head to head

Eastside vs. Pisco Sour

Eastside and Pisco Sour side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference, by the numbers

Both have simple syrup. Only the Eastside has gin, lime juice, mint and cucumber; only the Pisco Sour has pisco, lemon juice and egg white. In parts, an Eastside is 2 gin, 1 lime and ¾ syrup; a Pisco Sour is 3 pisco, 1½ lemon and 1 syrup. By volume, the Eastside is 53% spirit, 27% citrus and 20% syrup and sugar; the Pisco Sour is 55% spirit, 27% citrus and 18% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Eastside is the stronger drink in the glass (13.4% ABV against 11.2%), but being smaller it holds about the same alcohol (1.35 standard drinks each). Calories are close (about 194 and 203), but the Eastside has more sugar (14.4 g against 13.3 g). Both are shaken and served in a coupe.

Eastside

Sours · Gin

Strength: 13.4%
Std. drinks: 1.35
Calories: 194
Sugar: 14.4 g

2 ozGin60 ml
1 ozLime juice30 ml
¾ ozSimple syrup23 ml
6–8 leavesMint
2 slicesCucumber

Shaken, served in a coupe. About 6 oz (179 ml) in the glass. Garnish: A small mint sprig and a cucumber ribbon.

The ratio · 2 : 1 : ¾

GinLimeSyrup

Full Eastside recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Pisco Sour.

Pisco Sour

Sours · Pisco

Strength: 11.2%
Std. drinks: 1.35
Calories: 203
Sugar: 13.3 g

2 ozPisco60 ml
1 ozLemon juice30 ml
¾ ozSimple syrup20 ml
1Egg white

Shaken, served in a coupe. About 7 oz (213 ml) in the glass. Garnish: A few drops of Amargo or Angostura bitters on the foam.

The ratio · 3 : 1½ : 1

PiscoLemonSyrup

Full Pisco Sour recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Eastside.

On the ratio map

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.

More head to heads

Eastside vs.

Pisco Sour vs.

All head to heads →