As far as cocktails go, the Whiskey Sour is one of the simplest. Brought about more than a century ago, it is merely the combination of whiskey, citrus juice of some kind (though 9 times out of 10 it will be lemon) and a sweetening agent, usually granulated sugar or simple syrup.
Most of the time, it is the proportions of these ingredients that differentiate one recipe from another. Conservative examples call for a 1:2:3 ratio for the sweet, sour, and liquor elements, while some up the pucker factor to a whopping 6 to 1 sour to sweet.
Here’s a pretty standard recipe:
WHISKEY SOUR RECIPE
Recipe and image courtesy of Four Roses Bourbon.
- 2 oz Four Roses Yellow Label
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- Slice of lemon and a maraschino cherry
Shake and strain ingredients into an ice-filled sour glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge and cherry.
