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How to Cocktail
Recipe
5 min

Whiskey Sour

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Whiskey Sour
Author: Joe Gitter

Recipe By Joe Gitter

Published on August 27, 2026

A whiskey sour is one of the simpler shaken cocktails, and the key to perfect balance is in the details.

Time

5 min

Yield

Makes 1 cocktail

Why This Recipe Works

At its simplest, a whiskey sour is whiskey, lemon juice, and sugar, shaken with ice. We think an egg white, a traditional addition that has gone in and out of style over the years, elevates a whiskey sour from good to great. It adds rich, silky body and frothiness while mellowing the dark spirit. You can garnish with old-fashioned aromatic bitters if desired.

Ingredients

2 ounces rye
1 ounce egg white
¾ ounce simple syrup
½ ounce lemon juice
Cocktail cherries for garnishing

Instructions

Cook along with these step-by-step instructions

step 1 imagestep 2 imagestep 3 imagestep 4 image
  1. Add rye, egg white, simple syrup, and lemon juice to cocktail shaker and vigorously shake until mixture is foamy, about 45 seconds.
  2. Fill shaker with ice, then shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain cocktail into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherries and serve.
    Recipe Tip
    Use aged rum instead of rye for a Rum Sour or reposado tequila for a Tequila Sour.

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Whiskey Sour

Recipe By Joe Gitter

Published on August 27, 2026

Time

5 min

Yield

Makes 1 cocktail

Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

2 ounces rye1 ounce egg white¾ ounce simple syrup½ ounce lemon juiceCocktail cherries for garnishing

Instructions

  1. Add rye, egg white, simple syrup, and lemon juice to cocktail shaker and vigorously shake until mixture is foamy, about 45 seconds.
  2. Fill shaker with ice, then shake mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Double-strain cocktail into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherries and serve.
    Recipe Tip
    Use aged rum instead of rye for a Rum Sour or reposado tequila for a Tequila Sour.
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