The sour

01What it is

A sour is the simplest balance in drinks: something strong, something sour and something sweet. Spirit, fresh citrus and a sweetener, shaken hard with ice until the shaker is too cold to hold.

Learn this one shape and a third of the classics suddenly make sense. A Daiquiri, a Margarita, a Whiskey Sour and a Sidecar are all the same idea with a different spirit or sweetener.

02A short history

Sours are among the oldest mixed drinks we still order. They grew out of punch, which sailors and traders made with spirit, citrus, sugar and water, and shrank it down to a single serve. The Gin Sour, Brandy Sour and Whiskey Sour were already in bar books in the 1860s.

Over the next hundred years bartenders kept swapping the parts: orange liqueur instead of sugar gave the Sidecar and the Margarita, honey gave the Bee's Knees, and egg white gave the silky Pisco Sour and Clover Club.

03The base recipe

Taste and adjust. Sour lemons or a sweet liqueur change the balance, so the syrup is the part you move.

04Why it tastes this way

05The family tree

Same family, small changes. Each of these is one swap away from the next.

Whiskey SourWhiskey, lemon, sugar and egg white. The one most people picture.DaiquiriWhite rum and lime. Three ingredients, no hiding.MargaritaTequila and lime, sweetened with orange liqueur instead of sugar.Tommy’s MargaritaA Margarita sweetened with agave instead of orange liqueur.SidecarCognac, lemon and orange liqueur. The brandy cousin of the Margarita.White LadyThe same shape with gin.Pisco SourPisco with egg white and bitters on the foam.Clover ClubGin and raspberry, with egg white for a pink foam.Bee’s KneesHoney takes the place of sugar.PenicillinScotch with honey and ginger, and a smoky whisky on top.New York SourA Whiskey Sour with red wine floated on top.Last WordEqual parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino and lime.

06Spot it on a menu

Look for these words. Tap one to see what it means.

A cocktail described as spirit plus lemon or lime plus a syrup or liqueur is a sour, whatever its name.

07How to order it

1. Ask for it "up" for a cold, elegant glass, or "on the rocks" if you like to take your time.
2. Egg white is often optional. Say "no egg" if you prefer, or ask if they have a vegan foamer.
3. Want it less sweet? Ask for it "a little more sour". Bartenders adjust sours all the time.

08Mistakes to avoid

09Start with these three

Whiskey SourBourbon, lemon and sugar, with egg white if you want the silk. Tart, balanced, and the sour everyone starts with.DaiquiriThree things only: white rum, fresh lime, sugar. Shaken hard and cold, it is the drink every bartender gets judged on.MargaritaTequila, triple sec and fresh lime, salt on half the rim so you can choose. Tart, cold and direct.

10All 31 sour classics

AviationGin · 22%Bee’s KneesGin · 16.9%BrambleGin · 15.1%CaipirinhaCachaça · 26%Clover ClubGin · 14.2%Corpse Reviver #2Gin · 22.5%CosmopolitanVodka · 24%DaiquiriRum · 18%Gin Basil SmashGin · 20%Hemingway SpecialRum · 19%Last WordGin · 22.4%Lemon Drop MartiniVodka · 40%MargaritaTequila · 24%Naked and FamousMezcal · 17.6%Paper PlaneWhiskey · 16.7%PenicillinScotch · 19%Pisco SourPisco · 16%SidecarCognac · 40%Tommy’s MargaritaTequila · 16.8%Whiskey SourWhiskey · 18%Between the SheetsRum · 40%Brandy CrustaBrandy · 22.2%CanchancharaAguardiente · 18%CasinoGin · 21.6%Grand MargaritaTequila · 26%New York SourWhiskey · 15.8%South SideGin · 20%Spicy FiftyVodka · 20%Trinidad SourWhiskey · 50%Ve.N.ToGrappa · 14.5%White LadyGin · 40%

11Browse them in the library

See every sour classic as photo cards, next to the other lists in the cocktail library.

Open the Fresh & sour list →Every classic, A to Z →

12If you like this family