National Whiskey Sour Day
Try out any number of whisky sour recipes, usually using whisky, lemon or lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters. Play around with other flavors and liqueurs, too.
Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.
Mark Twain
Sometimes what makes a drink truly delicious is an interesting bouquet of flavors, and a whiskey sour offers just such a blend of flavors.
It’s an unusual little mix but the truly distinguished connoisseur knows that there’s little better on a hot day than a cool whiskey sour. National Whiskey Sour Day is your chance to experience this fantastic drink, and discover what your favorite variation is.
How to Celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day
National Whiskey Sour Day is best commemorated with its namesake drink, or maybe two. But like most drinks, there’s more than one way to make it. There are as many variations of this drink as there are bars to drink it in, and you should sample them all, starting with these two:
The Glen Livet Founder’s Reserve is one of our favorite foundations for this drink, then you merely mix:
Glen Livet’s Whisky Sour
4 parts Founder’s Reserve
2 parts Apple Liqueur
1 part lemon juice
1 part lime juice
1 part egg white
A spritz of sugar syrup
A spritz of Angostura bitters
Shake them up with some ice and pour into a whiskey glass with a single piece of ice, and garnish with a slice of apple.
Crown Royal’s Whisky Sour
1.5 oz Crown Royal Deluxe Whisky
.5 oz lemon juice
.75 oz simple syrup
an egg white
A much simpler variation, you take these ingredients and shake them with ice, and strain into an ice-filled whiskey glass, and garnish with a slice of lemon.
As mentioned earlier, there have been many different takes on the Whiskey Sour, and so one of the ways that you can celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day is by coming up with your own creation.
Why not add different flavors and ingredients to the mix to see what you can come up with? You can make this a fun activity that you can enjoy with your friends.
You can get together and create your own Whiskey Sour cocktail. Taste everyone’s creations and crown a winner. You can even get a good bottle of whiskey for the person who manages to put together the best cocktail creation.
Learn About National Whiskey Sour Day
National Whiskey Sour Day is the perfect day for you to enjoy this delicious drink, or if you have never tried it before, now is your chance! As the name suggests, this is a cocktail that incorporates whiskey, with bourbon typically used.
The whiskey is combined with sugar, lemon juice, and often a dash of egg white. There have been many different variations of this cocktail created. For example, there is the New York Sour, which has a little bit of full-bodied red wine added to the top of the cocktail.
If you want to serve this cocktail as you would in a bar, then it is typically garnished with a maraschino cherry and half of an orange slice. Simple yet effective! The drink itself is shaken and then it is serve either over ice or straight up.
The popularity of the Whiskey Sour has led to a number of other similar cocktails being created. The Ward 8 is an example of one of these.
This cocktail will typically use rye whiskey or bourbon. This will then be mixed with grenadine syrup, as well as both orange and lemon juices.
Some Fascinating and Interesting Facts About Whiskey
Of course, the start of the show when it comes to a Whiskey Sour is the whiskey itself, so we are going to take a look at some interesting facts about this drink.
One thing a lot of people are shocked to learn is that whiskey actually starts its life as beer. This is because it is created from the ‘beer’ that gets distilled, which is known as word. In fact, wort is created from all the ingredients you would expect to find in a pint of your favorite beer, i.e. malts, yeast, and water.
There are some interesting Guinness World Records when it comes to whiskey. One of these is for the oldest whiskey in the world, which belongs to a bottle of Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky.
It is believed that this whiskey was packaged sometime between 1851 and 1858, which means it is getting close to celebrating its 170th birthday. An Irish family sold the bottle of whiskey at auction and they managed to get an incredible $17,900 in return.
You may think that makes it one of the most expensive bottles of whiskey in the world, but you would be wrong. In Hong Kong, a decanter of Macallan ‘M’ whiskey was auctioned for $475,000.
History of National Whiskey Sour Day
The origin of the Whiskey Sour is not quite shrouded in mystery, in fact, the oldest known mention of the whiskey sour was found in the Wisconsin publication the Waukesha Plain Dealer over 100 years ago.
In the mid-1900’s a story was printed in the El Comercio de Lquique indicating that it was created by one Elliott Stubb.
National Whiskey Sour Day celebrates the creation of this delicious drink, and the role it has played in bar culture all over the world. So popular is this drink that it has been the name of several books, multiple songs, and several articles totally unrelated to the drink itself.
When did you last have a Whiskey Sour? If not National Whiskey Sour Day is your chance to finally try one out and join the ranks of those who absolutely love this alcoholic repast.
National Whiskey Sour Day FAQs
What’s the oldest documented Whiskey Sour recipe?
The oldest written Whiskey Sour recipe appears in Jerry Thomas’s The Bartender’s Guide, published in 1862.
However, sailors in the 1700s were already mixing spirits, citrus, and sugar to fight scurvy. The drink likely evolved from these seafaring concoctions before gaining popularity on land.
Why do some Whiskey Sour recipes include egg whites?
Egg whites add froth and a smooth texture to the cocktail. This technique became popular in the early 20th century, emphasizing a luxurious feel.
Contrary to myths, egg whites don’t affect the drink’s taste but enhance its mouthfeel.
What’s the connection between whiskey cocktails and saloons?
In 19th-century American saloons, bartenders created simple whiskey cocktails like the Sour to showcase whiskey’s versatility. Lemon juice and sugar masked the harshness of cheaper whiskey, making it palatable to a wider audience.
How did the Whiskey Sour inspire tiki culture cocktails?
The Whiskey Sour’s balance of citrus and sweetness influenced tiki cocktails like the Mai Tai.
Early tiki bartenders adapted the drink’s structure by using rum, exotic fruits, and spices to create tropical variations.
Are there regional twists on the Whiskey Sour in the U.S.?
In the Midwest, a common twist involves adding a splash of soda for effervescence. In the South, peaches or other local fruits are often incorporated, reflecting the region’s flavors and whiskey heritage.
What’s a ‘Gold Rush,’ and how does it relate to the Whiskey Sour?
The Gold Rush is a modern variation that swaps simple syrup for honey syrup, giving the cocktail a richer flavor. This variation became popular in the early 2000s, proving the Whiskey Sour’s adaptability.
Why is the Whiskey Sour a favorite among bartenders?
The Whiskey Sour highlights balance in cocktail-making. Its simple yet refined mix of sweet, sour, and whiskey showcases a bartender’s skill in creating harmony between bold flavors.
What are some unusual fruits used in Whiskey Sour variations?
Bartenders worldwide experiment with fruits like blood orange, passionfruit, and even tamarind. These substitutions bring unexpected flavors while staying true to the cocktail’s basic structure.
Is there a whiskey-free version of the Whiskey Sour?
Some creative bartenders use aged rum or brandy instead of whiskey. These alternatives offer unique takes while keeping the drink’s essence intact. For non-alcoholic options, zero-proof whiskeys replicate the experience.
How do whiskey competitions celebrate the Whiskey Sour?
Global cocktail competitions like the World Class Bartender of the Year often feature Whiskey Sour challenges.
Competitors create unique riffs on the classic, showcasing innovation while respecting tradition.
Need some inspiration?
Check out these videos for some extra inspiration in getting involved!
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