Bourbon Sour Cocktail
This bourbon sour cocktail recipe is a delightful blend of sweet, tart, and refreshing flavors. Garnish this classic drink with a cherry and a lemon twist for the perfect sipper!
My mom enjoyed both bourbon and whiskey, so I always think of her when I mix or drink a cocktail made with either one. She has always been a sucker for any type of whiskey sours.
This is one of my favorite bourbon drinks, especially in the summer. This classic cocktail is so refreshing and lip-smacking good that it will make any gathering special.
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Helpful tips
- I’m a big fan of sour cocktails (I don’t like overly sweet ones), so I mix with less simple syrup than the average person. I feel that our palates have been altered by the amount of sugars added to just about everything. But, you can restore your palate by lessening the sugars you add at home and cultivating your taste for sour flavors.
- I urge you to try the recipe first as it’s written, because while you can add more sweetener, you can’t take it away.
- My recommended sweet-to-sour ratio is 1:2 (so, twice as much sour mix or citrus juice as simple syrup).
- You can buy simple syrup in the grocery store or the liquor store but it is so easy to make that you can save money by making your own.
- Here’s how: in a medium saucepan, add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water (so equal parts.) Turn the heat on under the pan to medium heat and bring to a slight boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves, lower to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and cool completely before using it in a cocktail.
- Since you are going to cut lemon twists and juice lemon, you need to wash it/them well before doing so. It’s especially important to wash before making twists because you are going to place the twists in the cocktails and you don’t want to be drinking pesticides.
- What I do to wash citrus: I squirt unscented, natural, foaming soap in my hand and rub the fruit with my hands. I then take a vegetable brush and brush the skin. Lastly, I rinse the fruit under cold water until all the soap has been removed.
- I like making big lemon twists. I use a paring knife to cut them. Make two twists per cocktail.
- Some people put egg white in their whiskey or bourbon sour, but I don’t like to. The only thing it does is make it creamier and foamy, but I like it just the way it is.
How to make a bourbon sour cocktail
Pre-step
Get a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Also get a measuring glass and double old fashioned glasses.
After measuring out the ingredients, add to the shaker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – bourbon, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. (A)
Step two
Measure out 4 ounces of bourbon. (B)
Step three
Measure 2 ounces of orange liqueur. (C)
Step four
Measure 2 ounces fresh lemon juice – depending on the size of your lemon, you might need 2 lemons to get the correct amount.
I use this to get the juice out of the fruit. (D)
Step five
Measure 1 ounce of simple syrup. (E)
Step six
Take a paring knife and cut a big shallow slice of lemon rind. Try not to cut into the white pith. It’s okay to have some white, just not a lot.
Also get two maraschino cherries and rinse them off to remove the sugary juice. (F)
Step seven
Add fresh ice to the glassware. Here are the ice cube trays that I use that makes big cubes.
Step eight
Cap the shaker and shake for 10 – 15 seconds. Divide the liquid and cubes between the two glasses.
Add the lemon twists to each glass. I put 2 in each, so 4 in all. Also add the rinsed cherries.
Look at how golden they are!
Here’s the vertical view of the bourbon cocktail.
Look at the condensation on the glass.
I hope you enjoyed this bourbon sour cocktail recipe.
Other bourbon cocktails
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Bourbon Sour Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 ounces bourbon
- 2 ounce Cointreau
- 2 ounce lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup (try it with 1 ounce and if it is too sour for you, add more in .50 increments)
- 4 lemon rind twists (use a pairing knife to cut them – see notes)
- 2 maraschino cherries (wash the syrup off the cherries as it will add sweetness)
Instructions
- Fill cocktail shaker 1/2 way with ice.
- Add bourbon, Cointreau, lemon juice and simple syrup4 ounces bourbon, 2 ounce Cointreau, 2 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce simple syrup
- Cap shaker and shake for 10 to 15 seconds
- Add fresh ice to the glasses, strain and divide the liquid between the two glasses. Add the ice from the shaker.
- Place 2 lemon twists and 1 cherry to each glass4 lemon rind twists, 2 maraschino cherries
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!Notes
- I’m a big fan of sour cocktails (I don’t like overly sweet ones), so I mix with less simple syrup than the average person. I feel that our palates have been altered by the amount of sugars added to just about everything. But, you can restore your palate by lessening the sugars you add at home and cultivating your taste for sour flavors.
- I urge you to try the recipe first as it’s written, because while you can add more sweetener, you can’t take it away.
- My recommended sweet-to-sour ratio is 1:2 (so, twice as much sour mix or citrus juice as simple syrup).
- You can buy simple syrup in the grocery store or the liquor store but it is so easy to make that you can save money by making your own.
- Here’s how: in a medium saucepan, add 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water (so equal parts.) Turn the heat on under the pan to medium heat and bring to a slight boil. Stir until the sugar dissolves, lower to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and cool completely before using it in a cocktail.
- Since you are going to cut lemon twists and juice lemon, you need to wash it/them well before doing so. It’s especially important to wash before making twists because you are going to place the twists in the cocktails and you don’t want to be drinking pesticides.
- What I do to wash citrus: I squirt unscented, natural, foaming soap in my hand and rub the fruit with my hands. I then take a vegetable brush and brush the skin. Lastly, I rinse the fruit under cold water until all the soap has been removed.
- I like making big lemon twists. I use a paring knife to cut them. Make two twists per cocktail.
- Some people put egg white in their whiskey or bourbon sour, but I don’t like to. The only thing it does is make it creamier and foamy, but I like it just the way it is.
Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to crafting delightful dishes and cocktails, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.
This looks delicious!
Thank you Christopher!
This sounds like the perfect cocktail for an afternoon of reading. Hubby does like burboun….and I know he would like to give this a try.
Thanks Gloria! I hope hubby enjoys it.
I always enjoy any cocktail that has Cointreau in it, I just love the orange flavor. This one was really good! Can’t wait to make it for others in the summer!
Me too Veronika! Thanks. I hope you enjoy it.
This Bourbon Sour Cocktail looks absolutely refreshing! My friends will love a glass of this.
Thanks so much Dennis! I hope you all enjoy it.
What a refreshing drink! My husband loves a great bourbon cocktail, I can’t wait to make this for him!
I hope he enjoys it Tracy. Thanks for commenting!
What a simple recipe (perfect for entertaining since it’s easy!) … and yet a complex interplay of flavors, from the rich, deep notes of bourbon to the sweet simple syrup to the tart, bright citrus! You have such wonderful cocktail recipe ideas!
Shelly, you need to write for me. 🙂 You just summed up this cocktail in beautiful language. Thank you.
I’ve never had any kind of sour cocktail. I am all about obnoxiously sweet. 😆 But I’d love to give this a try for something different!
I hope you enjoy it Erin when you do. Because it really is balanced even though some might think not. But it’s a sourish cocktail.
Oh, interesting! I didn’t know one can use soap to clean lemons. I definitely need to do that. And what a tasty drink!
Only unscented hand soap for sure. It works perfectly and is a lot cheaper than the vegetable/fruit washes. 🙂 I’ve never had a problem! Cheers, Alex, and thank you for your comment.
It’s beautiful and simple and I love how easy it was for me to make with a non-alcoholic bourbon. Thank you so much!
Thank you Chandice! 🙂
I am such a fan of sour drinks so I had to try this out, I even had everything on hand! I like making my own simple syrup, it’s just so simple lol. Came out great, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Tristin! I’m a sour drink fan too! And I think making homemade simple syrup is so easy, I wish more would try it. 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
This cocktail seems super refreshing and like the perfect balance of sweet and tartness. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Moop. 🙂 It is very refreshing!