What ingredients are in a Whiskey Sour?

2 oz Blended Whiskey, Juice of 1/2 Lemon, 1/2 tsp Powdered sugar, 1 Cherry, 1/2 slice Lemon

What glass do you use for a Whiskey Sour?

A Whiskey Sour is traditionally served in a Verre Old Fashioned.

How strong is a Whiskey Sour?

A Whiskey Sour has an estimated ABV of 14,68%.

How many calories are in a Whiskey Sour?

A Whiskey Sour contains approximately 173 calories per serving.

What ingredients are in a classic Whiskey Sour?

The classic Whiskey Sour is made with blended whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and powdered sugar (or simple syrup), served over ice with a cherry and lemon garnish. Some contemporary versions include a float of red wine (Boston Sour) or an egg white for a silkier texture and frothy head. The IBA specification uses blended whiskey, keeping the base approachable and broad in flavor.

Why is the Whiskey Sour considered a foundational cocktail?

The Whiskey Sour is classified by the IBA as an 'Unforgettable' cocktail and represents the defining example of the sour family — a structural template combining spirit, citrus, and sweetener that underpins hundreds of cocktail variations. Its balance of whiskey warmth, lemon tartness, and gentle sweetness demonstrates the principle of flavor equilibrium that is central to bartending. The drink has appeared in American bar guides since at least the 1860s.

What is the ABV of a Whiskey Sour?

A Whiskey Sour made with a standard 2 oz pour of blended whiskey at 40% ABV, diluted with lemon juice and sweetener, typically yields a finished ABV in the range of 15–18% depending on dilution from shaking and ice. The drink is spirit-forward by sour-family standards given the relatively modest volume of modifiers. A Boston Sour with an egg white will be very slightly lower in ABV due to additional liquid volume.

Among the most widely recognised cocktails in circulation, the Whiskey Sour distils the sour template to its essentials: blended whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and powdered sugar, shaken and served over ice in an old-fashioned glass with a cherry and lemon garnish. The International Bartenders Association lists it among the Unforgettables, and it serves as the definitive example of the sour family—spirit, citrus, and sweetener in balance—one of the foundational templates of bartending. Whiskey's warmth, the lemon's tartness, and a measured sweetness hold one another in check at roughly 15% ABV, securing the drink's lasting place in cocktail culture.

Whiskey Sour

Whisky Sour

Verre Verre Old Fashioned

Difficulté Medium

Calories ~173 kcal

ABV 14,68%

Ingrédients

Blended Whiskey 2 oz
Lemon Juice of 1/2
Powdered sugar 1/2 tsp
Cherry 1
Lemon 1/2 slice

Instructions

Shake with ice. Strain into chilled glass, garnish and serve. If served 'On the rocks', strain ingredients into old-fashioned glass filled with ice.

IBA Classic Alcoholic ContemporaryClassic

Le Whiskey Sour est l'un des cocktails les plus durables et les plus universellement reconnus au monde, préparé avec whiskey assemblé, jus de citron frais et sucre glace, servi sur glace avec une cerise et une rondelle de citron en garniture. En tant qu'« Unforgettable » de l'IBA, il représente l'incarnation définitive de la famille des sours — un groupe de cocktails spiritueux-agrumes-édulcorant qui constitue l'un des modèles fondateurs de la mixologie. L'équilibre entre la chaleur du whiskey, l'acidité des agrumes et une douceur mesurée lui a valu une place permanente dans la culture du cocktail.

History & Origins

Whiskey Sours appeared in Jerry Thomas's 1862 'How to Mix Drinks', making them among the earliest documented American cocktails. The sour template Thomas described — spirit, lemon, sugar — became the foundation of modern mixology's sour category and directly influenced drinks from the Daiquiri to the Margarita. The IBA includes it among its Unforgettables, and it consistently ranks among the most ordered cocktails globally. Adding egg white for a silky foam layer became a popular refinement in the 20th century.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lemon zest and whiskey grain character, with a subtle sweetness from the powdered sugar. Palate: Tart and citrusy from the lemon juice, with blended whiskey's grain complexity and mild spice providing structure; the sweetener ties the components together into a balanced, pleasing whole. Finish: Refreshing and moderately dry with lingering lemon and whiskey warmth.

citrus tart sweet whiskey refreshing

Pro Tip

For the best Whiskey Sour, add an egg white and dry-shake before adding ice — the foam transforms it from a good drink into a great one.

Techniques utilisées

Filtrer Shake à Sec Shaker

Variations

Boston Sour

New York Sour

Penicillin

Compare Whiskey Sour

Daiquiri

Mojito

Gimlet

Gin Fizz

Data verified septembre 2017

Informations nutritionnelles →

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