My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Whiskey Sour vs New York Sour
Whiskey Sour vs New York Sour
What is the difference between a Whiskey Sour and a New York Sour? Here are both recipes side by side, with exact measures, and what actually sets them apart.
The difference
- Both use lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white.
- Only the Whiskey Sour has bourbon.
- Only the New York Sour has rye whiskey and red wine.
Whiskey Sour
| Bourbon | 45 ml |
| Lemon juice | 25 ml |
| Simple syrup | 20 ml |
| Egg white | 20 ml |
One of the oldest sours in print, in Jerry Thomas’s bartender’s guide of 1862. Egg white is optional, and divides bartenders.
New York Sour
| Rye whiskey | 60 ml |
| Lemon juice | 30 ml |
| Simple syrup | 22.5 ml |
| Egg white | 10 ml |
| Red wine | 30 ml |
A whiskey sour with a red wine float, first seen in 1880s Chicago before New York claimed it.