Skip to main content
Epicurious

Whiskey Sour

Whiskey sour recipe with cherry in glass.
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh

The key to an excellent whiskey sour? Getting the balance just right. This whiskey sour recipe has all the right proportions of bright, bracing lemon juice; warming, floral bourbon; and sweet simple syrup to deliver a refreshing cocktail that’s neither too cloying nor too biting. Using freshly squeezed juice is essential—the stuff that comes out of fruit-shaped squeeze bottles doesn’t even compare. If you don't have any lemon on hand, you can swap it out for lime (or a mixture of the two). Serve on the rocks with an orange wheel and a Maraschino cherry arranged neatly on a drink spear (optional but recommended!), and enjoy. Cheers!

Editor’s note: This recipe was originally published on April 19, 2016.

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1 Servings

Ingredients

2 ounces bourbon
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
¾ ounce simple syrup
½ orange wheel (for serving)
Maraschino cherry (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.

    Step 2

    Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.

    Step 3

    Strain cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into an old-fashioned or rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange wheel and cherry.

TagsCocktailAlcoholBeveragesBourbonWhiskeyEasyQuick5 Ingredients or FewerBon Appétit
Read More
Sake-Grapefruit Fizz
This light and drinkable cocktail pairs the bittersweet flavor of grapefruit with botanical gin and sparkling sake for a bubbly finish.
BA’s Best Old-Fashioned
A classic drink that never goes out of style. Stick with these steps and you’ll nail it every time.
Bicycle Bandit
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
Brown Derby
This simple honey-grapefruit cocktail dates to Prohibition, though its origin is a matter of some debate.
Rob Roy
Named for a Scottish revolutionary, a New York City operetta—or both—this effortless scotch cocktail is built to last.
Cranberry-Maple Mule
This big-batch cocktail made with ginger beer, cranberry juice, fresh lime, and a spiced maple simple syrup makes the perfect low-alcohol holiday drink.
Sea Breeze
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Saketini
A short list of ingredients comes together in this elegant sake martini.