Sour cocktails
A sour is spirit, fresh citrus and sugar, shaken hard. It is the pattern behind more classic cocktails than any other.
Many sours add egg white for a silky foam. Shake once without ice to whip it, then again with ice to chill it. Aquafaba (the water from a tin of chickpeas) works the same way.
10 recipes
The sour formula
A sour has three parts: a spirit, fresh citrus juice and a sweetener. A common starting point is two parts spirit to one part juice and one part sweetener, then adjusted to taste. The Whisky sour uses 50 ml bourbon, 25 ml lemon juice and 20 ml sugar syrup.
Swap the spirit and you get a different drink. The Vodka Sour uses vodka, the Bee's Knees uses gin and honey syrup, and the Sidecar uses Cognac and orange liqueur.
Lemon and lime are not interchangeable. The Whisky sour and Clover Club use lemon, while the Pisco Sour uses lime, so follow the recipe for the juice.
Why sours use egg white
Egg white gives a sour a soft, silky texture and a pale foam. It does not add flavour. The Clover Club and Pisco Sour both use it, and so does the Amaretto sour.
Shake once without ice, which is called a dry shake, to build the foam, then again with ice to chill it. Use British Lion eggs. Raw egg is not recommended for pregnant women, young children, older people or anyone unwell. Aquafaba, the liquid from a tin of chickpeas, works as a vegan substitute.
Egg white does not add flavour, but without it a sour is thinner and a little sharper. Aquafaba needs a slightly longer dry shake than egg white to build the same foam.
How to fix a sour that tastes wrong
If it is too sharp, add a small splash more syrup. If it is too sweet, add a squeeze more juice. Lemons and limes vary, so taste a sour before you serve it and adjust a little at a time.
Always use fresh juice. Bottled juice and sour mix taste flat and give sours a poor reputation. Fine strain the drink if you want a smooth foam with no ice chips.
Which sour to make first
The Whisky sour is the best place to start, because the recipe is forgiving. If you do not like egg white, the Bee's Knees has none. The Penicillin is a modern sour with Scotch, honey and ginger.
Browse the whisky cocktails and gin cocktails pages for more.
Start with fresh lemons and a bottle of bourbon you enjoy. Make the drink once as written, then change one thing at a time.
Questions people ask
What is a sour cocktail?
A sour cocktail is a spirit shaken with fresh citrus juice and a sweetener, usually served over ice or up. Egg white is often added for a silky foam. The Whisky sour, Vodka Sour, Pisco Sour and Amaretto sour are all examples.
Do sours need egg white?
No. Egg white adds texture and foam, but it is optional. Leave it out and shake once with ice. The drink will be thinner and sharper but still good. The Bee's Knees and Sidecar are sours that traditionally have no egg white.
What is a dry shake?
A dry shake is shaking a cocktail without ice before you add it, to whip the egg white or aquafaba into a foam. Then you add ice and shake again to chill the drink. This gives a denser, longer-lasting foam than a single shake.
What can I use instead of egg white in a sour?
Use 30 ml aquafaba, the liquid from a tin of chickpeas. It foams a little less than egg white but holds well. Give it an extra 10 seconds on the dry shake. This also makes the drink suitable for vegans and removes the raw-egg concern.
How do you make a whisky sour?
Shake 50 ml bourbon, 25 ml lemon juice, 20 ml sugar syrup and one egg white without ice for 10 seconds. Add ice, shake again, then strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Dot two dashes of Angostura bitters on top and serve.
What is the difference between a Margarita and a sour?
A Margarita is a type of sour, made with tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur instead of sugar syrup. The Daiquiri and Sidecar are also in the family. They all follow the same pattern of spirit, citrus and a sweet element.