Bourbon SourCocktail recipe
Rating
The Bourbon Sour is a classic American cocktail with a tangy and sweet flavor profile. This timeless drink is made with bourbon, which lends it a distinctive oaky and vanilla character, that is beautifully balanced by the fresh acidity of lemon juice.
A touch of sugar adds sweetness, rounding out the flavors to create a harmoniously zesty beverage. It's often garnished with a slice of orange and a cherry, adding a touch of fruity elegance.
Served in a whiskey glass, the Bourbon Sour is a revered staple in the cocktail world, celebrated for its bold yet balanced taste. It is a popular choice for those who appreciate the depth of bourbon and the refreshing sharpness of citrus.
Microbadges
Tags
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Cocktail Colin says:
Bourbon Sour expertly balances the boldness of bourbon with the sharpness of fresh lemon juice and a whisper of sugar, creating a classic cocktail that is both invigorating and smooth. This drink is a timeless choice for those who value the harmonious contrast of sweet and sour on the palate.
Method
How to make a Bourbon Sour
-
- In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and sugar
-
- Shake well for 10-15 seconds or until the outside of the shaker becomes frosted
-
- Strain over a few cubes of ice into a whisky glass or tumbler, garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Bourbon Sour with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- For an extra layer of complexity, try using a high-quality bourbon with a higher rye content. This will add a spicier note that balances beautifully with the citrus.
- Instead of regular sugar, use rich simple syrup (2:1 ratio of sugar to water) for a more luscious texture and balanced sweetness.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the history behind the Bourbon Sour?
The Bourbon Sour is a classic American cocktail with roots tracing back to the 19th century. It is part of the sour family of cocktails, which are made with a base spirit, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener. The Bourbon Sour specifically gained popularity in the American South, where bourbon was widely produced. Its simple yet appealing taste profile made it a staple in American cocktail culture.
Can I use a different type of whiskey in a Bourbon Sour?
Yes, you can use different types of whiskey to make a variation of the traditional Bourbon Sour. While bourbon provides a distinct sweetness and full body to the cocktail, using a different whiskey such as rye would give it a spicier note. Scotch or Irish whiskey will also create interesting variations, but the classic version uses bourbon for its unique characteristics.
What is the best way to achieve a frothy top on a Bourbon Sour?
To achieve a frothy top on a Bourbon Sour, many bartenders add a small amount of egg white to the cocktail before shaking. The key to a good froth is to perform a 'dry shake' first, which means shaking the ingredients without ice to emulsify the egg white. After the dry shake, add ice and shake again to chill the cocktail. This process creates a silky foam on top of the drink.
Are there any variations of the Bourbon Sour I should try?
Yes, there are several popular variations of the Bourbon Sour you might enjoy. The New York Sour involves floating red wine on top of the cocktail, adding a fruity and slightly tannic twist. The Whiskey Sour with egg white, often called a Boston Sour, adds a creamy texture and softens the acidity of the lemon. Another variation, the Gold Rush, substitutes honey syrup for the sugar, offering a richer sweetness.
How can I adjust the sweetness of my Bourbon Sour?
To adjust the sweetness of your Bourbon Sour, you can play with the amount of sugar or consider using different types of sweeteners. If the cocktail is too sweet, reduce the amount of sugar or use a tart lemon juice. For a sweeter drink, increase the sugar or try using simple syrup for smoother sweetness. Maple syrup or agave nectar are also great alternatives for a different flavor profile.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Rosemary Old Fashioned
The Rosemary Old Fashioned brings a fragrant and earthy twist to the classic cocktail. Fresh rosemary is muddled with sugar,...
Jeffrey Morgenthaler Amaretto Sour
Once dismissed as a saccharine relic of post-’50s cocktail folly, the Amaretto Sour lived in infamy as an over-sweet novelty....
Honey Old Fashioned
The Honey Old Fashioned is a delightful twist on the classic cocktail, blending the richness of bourbon with the natural...
Manhattan
The Manhattan is a classic cocktail that exudes elegance and sophistication, offering a harmonious blend of red vermouth, Angostura bitters,...
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Comments
Not my taste
Wayyyy too sour. Either do 3oz of bourbon or .5oz of lemon
You need to be a user with a verified email to comment on cocktails. Login / register