Whiskey Sour Cocktail | Wicked Good

This whiskey sour cocktail brings together smooth whiskey, bright citrus, and just the right touch of sweetness for a balanced and refreshing drink. It is simple to make, endlessly satisfying, and perfect for everything from casual evenings to celebratory gatherings.

As the title says, this whiskey sour is truly wicked good. Even Christopher — who usually avoids whiskey — happily drinks this one.

What sets this sour apart from the rest? The homemade sour mix. Its bright, balanced flavor makes it far superior to anything you’ll find in a bottle because you’re in full control of both the freshness and the sweetness.

Since I’m from Massachusetts, calling something “wicked good” feels perfectly natural. It’s part of the vocabulary I grew up with. What always makes me laugh, though, is when movies or TV shows try to capture a Boston accent and toss in a “wicked” for authenticity. Half the time, they place it in the sentence wrong, and I can’t help but shake my head and think, “They got that wicked wrong.”

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Helpful tips

• Use the best whiskey you can afford. My mom enjoyed the Crown Royal brand, but I have also made this cocktail with Jamerson Irish whisky.
• Usually, I like a 2:1 ratio of sweet and sour, but in this recipe, I recommend a ratio of 1:1 because whiskey is a potent spirit.
• If you garnish with maraschino cherries, RINSE them before putting them in your cocktail to remove the syrup.
• Try black maraschino cherries and the vibrant red maraschino cherry, but you will still need to rinse the syrup. I use and recommend the Luxardo brand.
• Some people put egg white in this cocktail. I’ve tasted the cocktail both ways, and I prefer it without. And even though there is a chance to get salmonella, there is still a chance. A raw egg would make it creamy, but I don’t think it’s necessary.
• Always wash your citrus before either juicing it or using it for garnish.
• I like to use a double old-fashioned glass for this cocktail, but you could use a rock glass.
• If you love whiskey sours, you may enjoy a variation of this cocktail. It’s called the New York sour. It has bourbon whiskey and you float red wine on top.

If you love whiskey, you’re going to love this gorgeous glass from GlenCairn. I didn’t make it in this glass but I’ve imbibed the whiskey sour in it. Also, check out this website for more glassware.

Even though you see two glasses in the photos, this recipe is for one cocktail. Double the recipe to make two.

How to make the whiskey sour cocktail

Pre-step

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Get a measuring glass and double old-fashioned glass.

For the garnish, get two maraschino cherries. Make sure to rinse them off before adding them to the cocktail. Spear the cherries with a martini pick.

After you measure out each ingredient below, pour it into the shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. (A)

Step two

Measure 2 ounces whiskey. (B)

Step three

Measure 1 ounce simple syrup. (C)

Step four

Measure 1 ounce lemon juice. I use this contraption to extract the juice. (D)

Step five

Add fresh ice to the glass. Cap shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain the liquid in the glass and add more ice cubes as you see fit.

Step six

Place prepared garnish on the side of the glass.

That’s it. Easy peasy and ready to imbibe.

And another photo, just because.

Other popular whiskey based cocktails

• Smash
• Hot toddy
• Manhattan
• New York sour

I hope you enjoy this whiskey sour cocktail recipe and you make it at your next party.

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear 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!

Originally published in February of 2016.