Bourbon Sour

Choose your whiskey wisely.

bourbon sour cocktail drink strong whiskey whisky
Thrillist
Thrillist

Jerry Thomas codified the simple formula for a sour in his 1862 The Bartenders Guide: spirit, sweetener, citrus. One of the most popular cocktails in this family is the Whiskey Sour, which can be made with many types of whiskey, but is best (in our opinion) mixed with bourbon. The sweetness of bourbon soothes the acidic lemon juice and harmonizes with the simple syrup, creating a beautifully balanced cocktail. Try this easy 3-ingredient cocktail and thank us later.

Bourbon Sour

Flavor ProfileSweet, Sour
Strength
Difficultyintermediate

Contributed by Supercall

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 oz Bourbon
  • 0.75 oz Lemon Juice
  • 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
  • Lemon wheel and cherry, skewered, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Step one

    Add all ingredients except the garnish to a shaker tin and add ice.

  2. Step two

    Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice (the bigger the cubes, the better). Garnish the drink with a lemon and cherry flag.