Whiskey Sour

Published Dec 10, 2023 · Updated Aug 30, 2026 · 3 min read

30-second summary

The Whiskey Sour embodies all three of these key components, so it is no wonder that this classic has been around for as long as it has. Too much of one can ruin your drink, but wh.

Table of contents

How To Make It
Simple Syrup
Raw Egg

It is well known that sailors in the 1700s and 1800s were prone to adding citrus to their daily ration of grog to prevent scurvy. They were on to something, as this quaff had the makings of what we now know as the Sour, and the cocktails that fall into this category are some of the most popular in the world.

The first written references of Sours did not appear until 1862, when a recipe for a version with brandy and gin were mentioned in Jerry Thomas’ The Bartenders Guide.

A former ship’s steward from Peru named Elliot Staub claimed the recipe for the whiskey adaption in 1872, but to add to the mystery, the cocktail had already been mentioned by name in a Wisconsin newspaper in 1870.

As is often the case with classic drinks, pinpointing the inventor becomes difficult.

How To Make It

It is a dedication to the craft of bartending that has helped to keep classics like the Whiskey Sour on cocktail lists around the world, and now you have what it takes to make your own.

Follow these steps, and you will have created a masterpiece worth sipping

Simple Syrup

This is an extremely easy mixer to make, but it should be prepared ahead of time so that it can cool. It is also widely available in stores for your convenience.

If you decide to make your own, you will need the following:-

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
A saucepan

Combine the sugar and water in the pan and simmer over a medium heat until dissolved. Stir as needed. Simmer on low for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Raw Egg

An uncooked egg in your drink sounds like something that you would only try on a dare, you are not alone.

Adventurous drinkers will try to convince you of its nutritional value to the Sour, the added benefits of the silky, creamy texture, and eye-catching frothy head.

If you add the egg, the rule of thumb is to wait nine minutes before taking your first sip so that the combination of citrus and alcohol can kill off any potential salmonella.

If you prefer to play it safe, products such as Fee Brothers Fee Foam have a similar effect as the egg without the potential stomach-ache.

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
1/2 oz simple syrup
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
2-3 drops Angostura bitters
1 oz egg white
Orange swath for garnish

Instructions

Add your spirit of choice to a shaker along with the simple syrup and lemon juice, minus the ice, and shake it like you mean it.
Add some ice to the mixture and continue to shake until well-chilled.
Strain into a coupe glass, top with 2-3 drops of the bitters and garnish with your swath.