A classic whiskey sour is one of the simplest and most satisfying cocktails you can make at home. With just bourbon, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice, it hits the perfect balance of bright, sweet and tart. Add an egg white and the drink becomes silky, frothy and bar-quality.
Hi, I’m Eddie — guest mixology contributor here at Panning The Globe. Over the past few years I’ve been experimenting with classic cocktails at home, testing different ratios, techniques and ingredients to recreate the world’s greatest drinks in a simple home setting. Favorites include the paper plane and the boulevardier, just to name a couple.
When was the last time you had a whiskey sour? For decades I associated this drink with the overly sweet versions that showed up at weddings and family events when I was young.
I was not alone, apparently. After achieving peak popularity in the 1950s and '60s, whiskey sours began to decline in the '70s with a perception of cheap whiskey, bottled sour mix and fluorescent maraschino cherries. It wasn’t until the 2000s, with the revival of craft cocktails that this drink regained its reputation.
I was at dinner at a friend’s place five years ago and was offered a whiskey sour. The thought of it almost made me giggle after all those years, but why not? It turned out to be refreshing and delicious. I knew I had to learn how to make an amazing whiskey sour to add to my repertoire.
So I went into my typical lab mode and turned out a dozen or so versions over the course of a few weeks, honing and tweaking, before deciding on the one I thought was worthy of serving to guests. I am now happy to share my whiskey sour recipe on Panning the Globe.
Whiskey Sour Ratio (Perfect Cocktail Formula)
The ideal whiskey sour ratio is:
- 2 parts bourbon
- 1 part fresh lemon juice
- 1 part simple syrup
- ½ part egg white (optional)
Why This Whiskey Sour Recipe Works
- Perfect balance of bourbon, lemon and sweetness
- Egg white creates a silky foam and smooth texture
- Uses fresh lemon juice for brighter flavor
- Simple ratios that make two drinks at once
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What I learned along the way
You don't need an expensive bourbon for a great whiskey sour. Once bourbon is mixed with lemon juice and simple syrup, subtle barrel flavors are lost. After testing several pricier options including Woodford Reserve and Blanton's, I decided my favorite for this cocktail is Maker's Mark — smooth, balanced and affordable.
Short answer: yes. Egg white doesn’t add flavor, but it dramatically improves the texture of the drink. When shaken, it creates a creamy foam that makes the cocktail smoother and visually beautiful. If raw egg whites make you nervous, skip it — the cocktail will still taste great. In fact, egg whites were not part of the earliest recipes, which date back to the 1860s.
A number of recipes I researched referred to doing a “dry shake” (meaning without ice) to maximize emulsification and foaminess of the ingredients before adding ice and shaking again. I had to look twice - a dry shake? There is nothing dry about a dry shake. Literally all the ingredients are wet. But whatever, I like it!
Yes. Try for yourself if you don’t believe me. Squeeze your own fresh lemons for best results, 100%.
Luxardo's for me or none at all. Here is where you can spend the money you saved on bourbon!
My ratios make it much easier to make two drinks at a time than one. In particular, I use half an egg white per drink and it turns out to be a challenge to try to figure out how much half an egg white is and to measure it into the shaker. Anyway it’s much more fun to have this drink with a friend, partner or date!
This drink can be served neat in a chilled martini or coupe glass, but I prefer it with one large ice cube in a tumbler. My reasoning is simple: I like to enjoy this cocktail over time without fear that if I don’t drink it quickly, it will lose its chill.
How to make a whiskey sour
Here's a quick overview of the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for full details.
- Measure the liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker (makes two) - 4 oz bourbon, 2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 oz simple syrup, 1 egg white.
- Dry shake! - cover the cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds to emulsify the ingredients. The contents of your shaker will look very frothy at this point.
- Add ice and shake again to chill - another 10-15 seconds.
- Strain into two glasses - either coupes if serving neat or ice filled tumblers if on the rocks
- Add garnish(es) - maraschino cherries, orange peel or wedges, etc.
I am in the habit of asking my dinner guests to put their drink orders in on their way to my house and one friend recently told me that if I made him one of my whiskey sours every time he came over that would be perfect.
If you're looking for more bourbon drinks, be sure to browse through all our cocktail recipes.
If you try this whiskey sour recipe, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. Lisa and I would love to know what you think!
PrintRecipe
Whiskey Sour Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 cocktails 1x
Description
This classic Whiskey Sour Cocktail combines bourbon, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup for the perfect balance of sweet and tart. Optional egg white creates a silky texture and beautiful foam, making this an easy bar-quality cocktail you can shake up at home.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- 1 egg white (optional)
- Ice
- Maraschino cherries and/or orange peels, to garnish
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Instructions
- Pour the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) into a cocktail shaker.
- Cover and shake vigorously without ice for 10–15 seconds to create a foam (this is called a “dry shake”).
- Add ice and shake again for 10–15 seconds to chill.
- Strain into two coupe glasses, or over two ice-filled tumblers if serving on the rocks.
- Garnish each drink with a maraschino cherry, orange peel, or both
Notes
- Simple syrup: Combine equal parts sugar and water and heat in the microwave for 1–2 minutes or in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Cool before using.
- Cherries: Luxardo maraschino cherries are the best. If you can’t find them, try Bada Bing cherries.
- Bourbon: Maker's Mark and Bulleit are great choices.
- Ice: I recommend these large ice cube molds
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
Jess
Planning a crafting day with friends tomorrow, and these look like the perfect final touch. Thank you, Lisa!