Quench Your Thirst with a Homemade Whiskey Sour

Nothing quite hits the spot on a hot day like a handmade Whiskey Sour. Can you think of a better back porch cocktail? The perfect combination of tart (and fresh) lemon juice, sweet simple syrup, and your favorite whiskey results in a perfectly balanced and refreshing cocktail. Throw a twist on the classic and add your own mix of seasonal flavors to create your own signature cocktail for your next garden soiree. 

What is a Whiskey Sour made of? 

A relatively easy cocktail, the three main building blocks of a Whiskey Sour are lemon juice, simple syrup, and whiskey. Additionally, egg white is often added to add a frothy and rich texture to the cocktail. Egg whites are a classic cocktail ingredient and add a little more texture to an otherwise non-fluffy drink. (Trust us. Egg white won’t make your cocktail taste like an egg, we promise!)  With lemon juice, we always recommend using fresh-squeezed juice- the stuff that comes in the lemon-shaped bottle in the grocery store just doesn’t cut it! What is our Whiskey Sour build? 

How to Make a Whiskey Sour

  • Whiskey Sour with North Carolina Whiskey (and with Egg White)

    • 1.5oz Whiskey (our recommendation? Oak & Grist Malt Whiskey)

    • 1oz fresh lemon juice

    • 0.75oz simple syrup*

    • 1 egg white

    • Orange peel

    • Luxardo Cherry

  • Add whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker without ice

  • Shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds

  • Add ice to the cocktail shaker, and shake again for 30 seconds

  • Strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass. The foam will form a beautiful layer on top.

  • Garnish with a fresh orange peel and a Luxardo cherry

  • Whiskey Sour with NC Whiskey (and without Egg White)

    • 2oz Oak & Grist Distillery Whiskey

    • 1oz fresh lemon juice

    • 0.75oz simple syrup

    • Orange peel

    • Luxardo Cherry

  • Add whiskey, lemon juice, and simple to a cocktail shaker with ice

  • Shake vigorously for 30 seconds

  • Strain the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer into a rocks glass with a 2” ice cube

  • Garnish with a fresh orange peel and a Luxardo cherry

* Just because you can get simple syrup in the store, doesn’t mean you should! It’s actually cheaper to make it yourself! Combine 1 part white sugar with 1 part water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer until all of the sugar is dissolved. This simple syrup can then be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for 6 months. (Yes, it’s THAT easy) *

Whiskey Sour vs. Old Fashioned: What’s the Difference? 

Wait, there are more classic whiskey cocktails than just the Old Fashioned? While both of these drinks do start with a base spirit of whiskey, the ingredients of both vary greatly. An Old Fashioned consists of whiskey, angostura & orange bitters, and sugar (simple syrup or a sugar cube). Since the Old Fashioned does not get lemon juice or egg white, the result is more spirit-forward and a better way to enjoy the unadulterated flavor of your whiskey.

Easy Whiskey Sour Variations

Like all classic cocktails, sometimes it’s fun to play around with the classic build to create a whole new libation for your home bar! Try subbing out your simple syrup with Luxardo Cherry juice for a delicious & fruity addition to your cocktail. Or, for a fun seasonal riff, try our Blood Orange Whiskey Sour recipe below

BLOOD ORANGE WHISKEY SOUR

  • 2 oz whiskey

  • 1 oz blood orange syrup

  • 0.75oz fresh lemon juice

  • 1 egg white

  • 5 dashes Fee Bros Black Walnut Bitters

  • Rosemary sprig

    • Add whiskey, blood orange syrup, egg white, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker without ice

    • Shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds

    • Add ice to a cocktail shaker and shake again for 30 seconds

    • Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled coupe glass

    • Garnish with 5 dashes of Fee Bros. Black Walnut Bitters and a fresh rosemary sprig

Since the base recipe is so simple, the Whiskey Sour is the perfect classic cocktail to put your own twist on! Let us know your favorite homemade Whiskey Sour recipe below so we can sip to our heart’s content!

Cheers!

Want to try North Carolina Whiskey from our Asheville Distillery?

Visit our Asheville distillery for a tour, where you can taste our NC craft whiskey and gin or grab a bottle of our spirits to enjoy at home!

William GoldbergComment