My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Whiskey Sour
Whiskey Sour recipe
Also known as Boston Sour, Bourbon Sour
IBA officialDry shakenRocks glassCubed ice14% ABV180 kcal
The Whiskey Sour is a dry-shaken whiskey cocktail, made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and more, served in a rocks glass over ice. It is citrusy. It is an official IBA cocktail, in The Unforgettables.
One of the oldest sours in print, in Jerry Thomas’s bartender’s guide of 1862. Egg white is optional, and divides bartenders.
Whiskey Sour ingredients
| Bourbon | 45 ml (1½ oz) |
| Lemon juice | 25 ml (¾ oz) |
| Simple syrup | 20 ml (¾ oz) |
| Egg white | 20 ml (¾ oz) |
How to make a Whiskey Sour
- Shake everything without ice for 10 seconds to whip the egg white.
- Add ice and shake hard again.
- Double strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
- Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Ice
- Cubed
- Garnish
- Orange slice and a cherry
Part of
Whiskey Sour: quick answers
- How strong is a Whiskey Sour?
- About 14% alcohol once the ice has melted in, roughly 16 g of alcohol per drink. That is an estimate: brands and dilution vary.
- How many calories are in a Whiskey Sour?
- About 180 calories per drink, from the alcohol and the sweet and fresh ingredients. An estimate: brands and the amount of sugar change it. Compare every drink in the cocktail calorie chart.
- What glass is a Whiskey Sour served in?
- A rocks glass, over ice cubes.
- How many ingredients does a Whiskey Sour have?
- 4 in total: bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white.
