Exploring the World of Sours: A Mixologist's Guide

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Exploring the World of Sours: A Mixologist's Guide

Sours are a cornerstone of the cocktail world, blending the sharpness of citrus with the smoothness of spirits, and often a touch of sweetness to round things out. They are as diverse as they are delightful, with variations that cater to every palate. In this post, we'll explore the different types of sours, delve into their histories, and provide you with recipes to try at home. And who knows, maybe we'll even sneak in a bit of culinary flair, because why should the kitchen have all the fun?

The Classic Sour

The Sour is perhaps the most straightforward of the bunch, consisting of a spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener. The beauty of the Sour lies in its simplicity and versatility. It's a canvas for creativity, allowing bartenders to play with different spirits, citrus varieties, and sweeteners.

The Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour is a classic that dates back to the late 19th century. Its creator is often attributed to Elliott Stubb, a bartender at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This drink is a perfect example of the balance that defines a sour.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • Bourbon or Rye whiskey
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Simple syrup

Whiskey Sour

Whiskey Sour

A classic sour cocktail featuring whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Bourbon or Rye whiskey
  • 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz Simple syrup
  • 1 Egg white (optional for frothiness)
  • Maraschino cherry and orange slice for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using).
  3. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix.
  4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  5. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

The Pisco Sour

The Pisco Sour, a beloved cocktail from Peru and Chile, showcases the unique flavor of Pisco, a grape brandy. This drink is often attributed to Victor Vaughen Morris, an American bartender who opened a bar in Lima, Peru, in the early 20th century.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • Pisco
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Simple syrup
  • Egg white
  • Angostura bitters

Pisco Sour

Pisco Sour

A refreshing sour cocktail featuring Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Pisco
  • 1 oz Fresh lime juice
  • 3/4 oz Simple syrup
  • 1 Egg white
  • Angostura bitters for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine the Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake (without ice) for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
  3. Add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 15 seconds.
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Drop a few drops of Angostura bitters on top for garnish.

The New York Sour

The New York Sour takes the classic Whiskey Sour and adds a red wine float, creating a stunning layered effect. This drink is believed to have originated in Chicago in the late 19th century, but it gained its name in New York.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • Bourbon or Rye whiskey
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Simple syrup
  • Red wine

New York Sour

New York Sour

A twist on the classic Whiskey Sour with a red wine float.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Bourbon or Rye whiskey
  • 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz Simple syrup
  • 1/2 oz Red wine (such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon)

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix.
  4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  5. Carefully pour the red wine over the back of a spoon to float it on top of the drink.

The Amaretto Sour

The Amaretto Sour is a sweet and nutty twist on the classic sour, featuring the Italian liqueur Amaretto. This drink became popular in the 1970s and is often attributed to Jeffrey Morgenthaler, who modernized the recipe by adding fresh lemon juice and egg white.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • Amaretto
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Simple syrup
  • Egg white
  • Maraschino cherry and orange slice for garnish

Amaretto Sour

Amaretto Sour

A sweet and nutty sour cocktail featuring Amaretto, lemon juice, and egg white.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Amaretto
  • 1 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz Simple syrup
  • 1 Egg white
  • Maraschino cherry and orange slice for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine the Amaretto, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake (without ice) for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
  3. Add ice to the shaker and shake again for another 15 seconds.
  4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  5. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

The Sidecar

The Sidecar is a classic sour that combines cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. It's often attributed to Harry MacElhone, the owner of Harry's New York Bar in Paris, who is said to have created it around the end of World War I.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • Cognac
  • Orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Sugar rim (optional)

Sidecar

Sidecar

A classic sour cocktail featuring cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Cognac
  • 1 oz Orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
  • 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • Sugar for rimming the glass (optional)

Instructions:

  1. If desired, rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar.
  2. Fill a shaker with ice.
  3. Add the cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
  4. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix.
  5. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass.

The Daiquiri

The Daiquiri is a simple yet elegant sour that combines rum, lime juice, and sugar. It's believed to have been invented by Jennings Cox, an American mining engineer working in Cuba, around 1898.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • White rum
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Simple syrup

Daiquiri

Daiquiri

A simple and elegant sour cocktail featuring white rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz White rum
  • 3/4 oz Fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 oz Simple syrup

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add the rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix.
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Aviation

The Aviation is a gin-based sour that includes maraschino liqueur and crème de violette, giving it a unique floral flavor and a striking blue color. It was created by Hugo Ensslin, a bartender at the Hotel Wallick in New York City, around 1916.

The traditional recipe calls for:

  • Gin
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Maraschino liqueur
  • Crème de violette

Aviation

Aviation

A floral and elegant sour cocktail featuring gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz Maraschino liqueur
  • 1/4 oz Crème de violette

Instructions:

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add the gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and crème de violette.
  3. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix.
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Culinary Sours

While the classics are fantastic, adding a bit of culinary flair can elevate a sour to new heights. Here are a couple of recipes that incorporate culinary elements:

The Savory Sour

This sour incorporates a savory element with a homemade tomato shrub, adding depth and complexity to the drink.

Savory Sour

Savory Sour

A sour cocktail with a savory twist, featuring vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a homemade tomato shrub.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Fresh tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Salt

Instructions:

  1. Combine the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, and salt in a saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
  3. Let cool, then strain through a fine mesh sieve.
  4. Store in a sterilized jar in the refrigerator for up to a month.

The Herbaceous Sour

This sour incorporates fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme, adding an aromatic twist to the classic recipe.

Herbaceous Sour

Herbaceous Sour

A sour cocktail with an aromatic twist, featuring gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and fresh herbs.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz Simple syrup
  • 1 sprig Fresh rosemary
  • 1 sprig Fresh thyme

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, muddle the rosemary and thyme with the simple syrup.
  2. Add the gin and lemon juice.
  3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to chill and mix.
  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  5. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary or thyme.

Conclusion

Sours are a versatile and delicious category of cocktails that offer endless possibilities for creativity. Whether you stick to the classics or experiment with culinary elements, there's a sour out there for everyone. So next time you're behind the bar, why not whip up one of these recipes and see where the journey takes you? Just remember, as with all things in life, balance is key. And if you mess up the balance, well, there's always the next round to get it right. Cheers!