Whiskey Sour
A silky, tart classic where bourbon meets fresh lemon juice and a touch of sweetness, optionally crowned with a frothy egg white foam.

Base
whiskey
Glassware
Rocks glass
Flavor Profile
soursweet
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon whiskey
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.75 oz simple syrup
- 1 egg white (optional)
- Angostura bitters, to garnish
Instructions
- 1Dry shake bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) without ice.
- 2Add ice and shake again until well chilled.
- 3Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and finish with a few dashes of bitters.
Origin & Story
United States, mid-1800s
One of the first cocktails to appear in print (Jerry Thomas's 1862 bartending guide), the sour format of spirit, citrus, and sugar was originally used by sailors to make rationed spirits more palatable.
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