PrintTime for a Drink: Whiskey Sour
Let's get this weekend started right. Here's a cocktail from Paul Clarke to kick things off. Need more than one? That kinda week, eh? Here you go. Cheers!
It ain’t fancy, but that’s a big part of its appeal. Because at the end of a long day—scratch that; long week—you don’t always feel like challenging your palate, or even thinking about it very much. You just want a nice, easy drink, one that’s as loyal and friendly as an old dog, that doesn’t mind if you pad around the living room in your socks or lie back on the couch watching shows you’d never dare admit you enjoy. Who’s it gonna tell, anyway?
It’s Friday afternoon, and if you’re lucky you’ve got about 60 hours before you have to think or speak for anybody else again. Time for the Whiskey Sour—the comfortable T-shirt of drinks.
Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
2 ounces whiskey (bourbon, rye or Tennessee whiskey all work well. Scotch, too, if that’s your type, or Canadian, if that's what's at hand.)
1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1 egg white (optional—use if you’re feeling mildly adventurous, or need a drink with a little more gravitas)
Procedure
Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake for 10 seconds (if using the egg white, give it a little extra muscle and a little extra time). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, or into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with a cherry, a slice of orange, or everything or nothing at all.
About the author: Paul Clarke blogs about cocktails at The Cocktail Chronicles and writes regularly on spirits and cocktails for Imbibe magazine. He lives in Seattle, where he works as a writer and magazine editor.
View other entries from Cocktail Concoctions.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
7 Comments:
Thanks for the cocktail recipe, Paul! I had only tasted the artificial whiskey sour (and her cousin, the amaretto sour) made with a sour mix, so I jumped at the chance to try this sour au natural. I keep Jameson's on hand for when my dad visits, so I used that. I also made it with the egg white and it was great -- simple and refreshing.
Dominic
the zen kitchen
dvchurch at 10:01PM on 10/19/07
Whiskey sours have always been my go to drink (in fact, I resorted to one last week when a tiki bar couldn't make a pink squirrel--I wouldn't have ordered one out of the blue, it was on their menu) though I never thought of it as a comfortable t-shirt cocktail. I've never made one at home, but I'll have to give it a try soon.
Project Me
Krista at 12:14AM on 10/20/07
One of my favorite at-home drinks, but only in the cool weather.
Barbara Hanson at 10:24AM on 10/20/07
it's ten a.m. on saturday, i'm in the office working (okay, not working that hard since i am reading serious eats), but wearing my maker's visor. as soon as i get home i am mixing one of these babies up.
carriebwc at 11:22AM on 10/20/07
I don't understand what the egg white is for? I feel dense, but I need this explained to me...is it about texture? does it add something to the taste?
everythingsfree at 11:10PM on 10/24/07
Love whiskey sours---but only drink them at home, so I know it's made with real lemon juice and not a sour mix. (scotch whiskey sour? that sound horrible)
Lilla at 11:54AM on 10/25/07
The egg white gives the drink extra body and a nice, silky mouthfeel. It doesn't alter the taste, just the heft and drinkability of the cocktail (it also makes a lovely foam, so the drink is nicer on the eyes).
Paul Clarke at 7:37PM on 10/29/07