The Whiskey Sour is a combination of whiskey, citrus, sugar (and sometimes an egg white) and is a simple and refreshing yet classic cocktail that will become more prevalent on my bar as the weather (hopefully) begins to warm. If you are hoping to make some Whiskey Sours this summer, you might be wondering which whiskey is best to use.
In this article, I will explore the whiskeys that I reach for when making a Whiskey Sour.
If you are interested in the history, ingredients, variations, and serving suggestions for a whiskey sour, check out this Ultimate Guide To The Whiskey Sour.
Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipe
In her Ultimate Guide, Beth Squires quotes the official International Bartender’s Association recipe. This is a foolproof recipe that has, of course, been tried and tested.
Of course, you can follow any Whiskey Sour recipe you wish. However, I have included below my personal favorite way to make a Whiskey Sour.
Ingredients:
- 2oz Bourbon (whiskey of your choice)
- ¾oz of lemon juice
- ½oz of sugar syrup (you can use Demerara if you want more richness)
- ½oz of egg white (optional, aquafaba is a great alternative)
- Angostura bitters for garnish (optional)
- Cherry for garnish (optional)
Method:
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
- Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white into your shaker. Shake these ingredients dry (without ice) first. Hold onto that shaker as everything is going to want to explode out of it.
- Open the shaker, add ice, and shake again until your shaker begins to condense.
- Strain into a glass of your choice with no ice, double strain if you can for a better foamy head. Let the drink settle, and allow the head to develop.
- Add five drops of Angostura bitters to the foam and swirl with a toothpick, add a cherry on a cocktail stick for garnish.
It sounds like a lot, but you can have this all done in less than five minutes. It’s like riding a bike, once you’ve done it then you’ll never forget. Anyway, onto some whisky recommendations! That’s what you’re all here for.
Jameson Irish Whiskey
BUY NOW: $20.99
Jameson Irish Whiskey is a popular classic for a reason. Dollar for dollar, across the spectrum of availability, cost, and consistency Jameson’s has it all.
Flavor-wise, it is a wonderful matchup with sweet sugar syrup, and the little spicy hit you’ll get from the Angostura. If you’re making Whiskey Sours in large numbers for a party then this is the best budget bottle, in my opinion.
Simple and effective, that’s all Jameson needs to be, with mountains of history to boot.
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
BUY NOW: $44.97
Okay, a bourbon alternative. Flavour-wise we’re going to be upping both the sweetness and the spice here, as you’d expect from bourbon and rye. So, you may want to drop the amount of sugar syrup being used, possibly up the amount of lemon juice by a quarter of an ounce just to make everything balance out.
Four Roses offers fantastic value for money across their whole core range. The Small Batch release is bottled at 45% ABV, so we’re also going to be proofing up the cocktail, too.
Try a few different alternatives when you’re testing the recipe beforehand, they’ll be a perfect match in there somewhere.
Kavalan Single Malt
BUY NOW: $49.99
The use of single malt in cocktails is still divisive. But, using something very refreshing and light is, on paper, the perfect way to make a Whiskey Sour.
Kavalan is a single malt distillery based in Taiwan which has dominated a large amount of the whisky landscape in the past decade. With a lot of its very powerful single-cask releases dominating the written word of whisky, we’re looking at something a little different, and that is their entry-level release.
This whisky is layered in pineapple and loads of fresh fruit to help balance out the lemon juice, sugar syrup, and the little ginger bite you’ll get from the bitters, too.
It is a pricier alternative compared to other releases on this list, but it’s still a flavor profile that gives you loads to work with.
Compass Box Glasgow Blend
BUY NOW: $31.99
Scotch whisky! I’ve deliberately included something with a little peat smoke to it. If you are not a peat fan then you can use the Artist Blend version of this whisky. But for those of you who want another level of depth added to your cocktail, please carry on reading.
The way in which peat smoke interacts with flavors such as lemon and sugar is quite a remarkable thing. They seem to occupy different parts of your tongue but still harmonize in a rather refreshing manner.
This particular whisky is a blended style, so we’ve got grain whiskies providing sweetness, and malt providing a little more roundness and a savory edge to the whole thing. A wonderful and affordable way to enjoy a Whiskey Sour.
Woodford Rye
BUY NOW: $31.99
Finally, a rye. Now this is a relatively new idea to me as well. I happen to have Woodford Rye in the house right now and thought to myself when washing up the other night ‘Why have I never used this in a Whiskey Sour?’
It worked rather well and seemed to bring out these really unusual yet welcome creamy notes to the drink, as well as a slightly salty edge. It even finished with the really nice chocolate note that I’ve always come across in this particular rye.
If you’ve got something kicking around the house and are drinking it a little slower than some other bottles, it’s totally worth throwing it into a Whiskey Sour to see if things are going to work well.