Whiskey Sour Recipe
Whiskey sour ingredients are as simple as they come: a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a spoonful of sugar, and plenty of whiskey. For a Boston sour, add an egg white, too.

[Photo: Vicky Wasik]
It ain't fancy, but that's a big part of its appeal. Because at the end of a long day—scratch that, a long week—you just want a nice, easy drink. The whiskey sour, with the gentle bite of lemon tempered by a whisper of sugar, is a simple, go-to classic for a reason.
Why It Works
- Shaking with ice chills the cocktail without over-dilution.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice beats sour mix in terms of flavor and aroma.
- Toasted sugar tastes less sweet than plain, with subtle notes of caramel to complement the whiskey.
Read more: How Old Mr. Boston Got His Groove Back
- Yield:makes 1 cocktail
- Active time: about 15 seconds
- Total time:about 2 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- 1 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar or toasted sugar
- 1 egg white (optional, to make a Boston sour cocktail)
Directions
-
1.
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.
This Recipe Appears In
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