Cocktails · Whiskey & Bourbon

Whiskey Sour RecipeThe Classic, With or Without Egg White (Plus a Zero-Proof Twin)

The classic whiskey sour with the right ratio, with or without egg white, plus the New York Sour, Brown Derby and Ward Eight, each with a zero-proof twin.

October 4, 20264 min read5 drinks ⇄ 5 twins ↓

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A whiskey sour is whiskey, fresh lemon juice and sugar, shaken with ice. The classic ratio is 2 oz whiskey, ¾ oz lemon juice and ¾ oz simple syrup, and an optional bit of egg white turns it silky with a thick foam on top.

This whiskey sour recipe covers the version with egg white, the version without, and three classic variations (the New York Sour, the Brown Derby and the Ward Eight). Every card has a zero-proof twin that still tastes like a sour, because the sour is the easiest cocktail to rebuild without alcohol.

What Is in a Whiskey Sour?

A whiskey sour has three parts: whiskey, citrus (always lemon) and sweetener (simple syrup, or sometimes honey or maple). That is the “sour” template that gives us the daiquiri, margarita and sidecar. Bitters and egg white are optional, but the traditional version includes both.

The ratio matters more than the whiskey. Two parts spirit to ¾ part each of lemon and syrup is balanced for most palates. If your lemons are very tart, add a splash more syrup.

The Classic Whiskey Sour Recipe

Use fresh lemon juice, always. Bottled juice is the one thing that reliably ruins a sour.

A halved lemon being pressed over a jigger on a wooden board. — Fig. 08Fresh lemon juice is non-negotiable; bottled juice is the one thing that ruins a sour.

The classic below uses bourbon and egg white, finished with a few drops of bitters on the foam. The syrup is regular 1:1 simple syrup.

A whiskey sour with white foam and bitters drops in a rocks glass over a large ice cube. — Fig. 01The Classic Whiskey Sour: 2 oz bourbon, ¾ oz lemon, ¾ oz syrup and egg white.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Rocks glassShaken4 minMedium · 18%

Rocks glassShaken4 minZero-proof · 0.0%

Method

1Add everything except the bitters to a shaker with no ice and dry shake hard for 10 seconds.
2Add ice and shake again for 10 to 12 seconds.
3Double-strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube and dot the foam with bitters.

Method

1Dry shake everything except the bitters for 10 seconds.
2Add ice, shake again and double-strain over fresh ice.
3Dot the foam with bitters.

How the swap works
Strong tea has whiskey's tannin, smoky lapsang suggests the barrel and aquafaba gives the same foam as egg white.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

With or Without Egg White?

Egg white adds a silky texture and a thick foam, not flavor. It makes the drink round and soft; without it, a whiskey sour is cleaner, tarter and more refreshing. Both are correct, so make it the way you like it.

For safety, use pasteurized egg white or aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas); both foam beautifully, and aquafaba is vegan. About 1 tbsp (½ oz) is enough per drink.

A bowl of aquafaba, a bowl of egg white, a jar of chickpeas and a whisk. — Fig. 04Use pasteurized egg white or aquafaba; both foam beautifully.

The Whiskey Sour Without Egg White

Skip the egg and shake once, with ice. It looks clear and amber, and it lets the whiskey show through.

A clear amber whiskey sour with a lemon wheel and cherry, no foam. — Fig. 03No egg? The Whiskey Sour Without Egg White is cleaner, tarter and just as good.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Rocks glassShaken3 minStrong · 21%

Rocks glassShaken3 minZero-proof · 0.0%

The pour · 3½ oz

The pour · 3⅓ oz

Whiskey Sour Without Egg White

Clear Tea Sour

A clean, tart, amber sour with no foam.

Serves

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishLemon wheel and a cherry

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishLemon wheel and a cherry

Method

1Add everything to a shaker with ice and shake for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass and garnish.

Method

1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon wheel.

How the swap works
Tea is already a little bitter, so slightly less syrup keeps the balance without whiskey's sweetness.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

How to Dry Shake for Foam

A dry shake means shaking without ice first, so the egg white or aquafaba can whip up before it gets cold.

Add the whiskey, lemon, syrup and egg white to a shaker with no ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.
Add ice and shake again for 10 to 12 seconds, until the tin is frosty.
Double-strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, or into a chilled coupe.
Let the foam settle for a moment, then add a few drops of bitters.

Hands shaking a metal cocktail shaker over a bar. — Fig. 02Dry shake first without ice, then shake again with ice: that's how you get a thick foam.

Bourbon or Rye?

Bourbon is the default: sweeter, with caramel and vanilla notes that suit a sour. Rye is spicier and drier, which makes a sharper whiskey sour. Use either; just stick with a bottle you would happily sip, since the lemon will not hide a bad one. If you like bourbon drinks, see the full list of bourbon cocktails.

Whiskey Sour Variations

The New York Sour

A classic whiskey sour with a float of dry red wine on top. The wine adds color, a fruity edge and a pretty two-toned look. Pour it slowly over the back of a spoon so it floats instead of mixing.

A New York sour with a red wine float over amber whiskey sour. — Fig. 05The New York Sour adds a float of red wine for color and a dry, fruity edge.

The float takes a steady hand and a spoon, as the photo below shows.

Red wine being poured over the back of a spoon onto a whiskey sour. — Fig. 06Pour the wine slowly over the back of a spoon so it floats instead of mixing.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

Rocks glassShaken5 minMedium · 19%

Rocks glassShaken5 minZero-proof · 0.0%

The pour · 4 oz

The pour · 3¾ oz

New York Sour

Red Grape Tea Sour

A whiskey sour with a red wine float.

Serves

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishLemon wheel

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishLemon wheel

Method

1Shake the whiskey, lemon and syrup with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
3Pour the wine slowly over the back of a spoon to float it on top.

Method

1Shake the tea, lemon and syrup with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain over fresh ice.
3Pour the pomegranate juice slowly over the back of a spoon to float it on top.

How the swap works
Pomegranate juice gives the same dark-red, tannic top note as the wine, with a little less syrup in the base to balance it.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

The Brown Derby

Bourbon, grapefruit juice and honey syrup. It is a sour with a kinder edge, since grapefruit is gentler than lemon and honey rounds it out.

A Brown Derby in a coupe with a grapefruit twist, beside half a grapefruit and a jar of honey. — Fig. 07The Brown Derby is bourbon, grapefruit and honey: a sour with a kinder edge.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

CoupeShaken3 minStrong · 21%

CoupeShaken3 minZero-proof · 0.0%

The pour · 3½ oz

Brown Derby

Honey Grapefruit Sour

Bourbon, grapefruit and honey.

Serves

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishGrapefruit twist

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishGrapefruit twist

Method

1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain into a chilled coupe and express a grapefruit peel over the top.

Method

1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain into a chilled coupe and express a grapefruit peel over the top.

How the swap works
Grapefruit already has a bitter edge, which the tea reinforces; honey rounds it all out.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

The Ward Eight

A Boston classic from the 1890s: whiskey, lemon, orange juice and grenadine. It is fruity and bright, with a coral color that gives it away.

A coral-orange Ward Eight in a coupe with an orange wheel and cherry. — Fig. 09The Ward Eight is a Boston classic: whiskey, lemon, orange juice and grenadine.

· Cocktail spec · Zero-proof spec

CoupeShaken3 minStrong · 22%

CoupeShaken3 minZero-proof · 0.0%

The pour · 3¼ oz

The pour · 3½ oz

Ward Eight

Orange Grenadine Sour

A Boston classic: whiskey, lemon, orange and grenadine.

Serves

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishOrange wheel and a cherry

Ingredients (1 drink)

GarnishOrange wheel and a cherry

Method

1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with an orange wheel and a cherry.

Method

1Shake everything with ice for 10 to 12 seconds.
2Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with an orange wheel.

How the swap works
A little more orange juice replaces the sweetness whiskey would add; the tea keeps the tannic grip.

Enjoy responsibly · legal drinking age only · Zero-proof twin · · 1 oz = 30 ml

Overhead view of bourbon, lemons, simple syrup, cherries, bitters, a jigger and a shaker. — Fig. 10A handful of ingredients makes the base; one or two more turn it into each variation.

A Zero-Proof Whiskey Sour

Sours are the easiest cocktails to rebuild. The lemon and sugar are already there, so all you need is something with whiskey’s tannin and depth. Strong black tea, with a little smoky lapsang souchong, does that, and a pinch of salt makes it taste fuller. Use aquafaba for the foam.

A whiskey sour and its zero-proof twin side by side in matching glasses. — Fig. 11The zero-proof twin uses strong smoky tea for the whiskey's depth, so it still tastes like a sour.

Looking for more? Browse the classic cocktails, the old fashioned and the batch cocktails guide, which includes a big-batch whiskey sour for a crowd.

A bowl of dark brandied cherries beside orange slices on a dark marble surface. — Fig. 12A good cherry and a fresh orange slice finish the drink.

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Last call

Questions from the bar

Q1What is in a whiskey sour?

A classic whiskey sour is whiskey, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, shaken with ice. Many versions add a little pasteurized egg white or aquafaba for foam and a few dashes of aromatic bitters.

Q2Should a whiskey sour have egg white?

It is optional. Egg white makes the texture silkier and the foam thicker without adding flavor. Without it the drink is clearer and tarter. Use pasteurized egg white or aquafaba.

Classic cocktails ↗

Q3What is the ratio for a whiskey sour?

The classic ratio is 2 oz whiskey, ¾ oz fresh lemon juice and ¾ oz simple syrup (about 2 : ¾ : ¾). Adjust the syrup up or down a little depending on how tart your lemons are.

Q4What whiskey is best for a whiskey sour?

Bourbon is the standard because its caramel and vanilla notes suit a sour. Rye makes a drier, spicier sour. A mid-priced bottle you like to drink is all you need.

Bourbon cocktails ↗

Q5Can I make a whiskey sour without a shaker?

Yes. Shake in a tightly closed jar with ice instead, and strain through a small sieve. Dry-shake the egg white first without ice if you are using it, then add ice and shake again.

Q6What is a New York Sour?

A New York Sour is a whiskey sour, usually made with rye, topped with a float of dry red wine. The wine adds color and a fruity edge. Pour it slowly over the back of a spoon.

Old fashioned recipe ↗

Another round?

Whiskey Sour RecipeThe Classic, With or Without Egg White (Plus a Zero-Proof Twin)

What Is in a Whiskey Sour?

The Classic Whiskey Sour Recipe

Classic Whiskey Sour

Lapsang Sour

With or Without Egg White?

The Whiskey Sour Without Egg White

Whiskey Sour Without Egg White

Clear Tea Sour

How to Dry Shake for Foam

Bourbon or Rye?

Whiskey Sour Variations

The New York Sour

New York Sour

Red Grape Tea Sour

The Brown Derby

Brown Derby

Honey Grapefruit Sour

The Ward Eight

Ward Eight

Orange Grenadine Sour

A Zero-Proof Whiskey Sour

Questions from the bar

Pour the next one