In honor of National Whiskey Sour Day we’ve decided that, as whiskey connoisseurs at Nestor Liquor, we couldn't possibly celebrate this well deserved day without making our very own Whiskey Sour recipe for you to try at home!
Where did the Whiskey Sour originate?
The origin of the classic whiskey sour is not exact, however, the first reference to the whiskey sour cocktail drink can be traced back to the 1862 Bartenders Guide by Jerry Thomas, a bartender from New York, credited with being the first bartender in the United States to popularize cocktails.
In actual fact, it's more likely that the whiskey sour was originally consumed by sailor's travelling to the United States in the early 1800's (perhaps one of the sailors shared a few secrets from the sea with our friend Jerry who took it upon himself to turn it into one of his famous cocktails?)
Let's Thank....Scurvy!
Travelling by sea in the early 1800's was nothing like what we see today. The QE2 or Royal Caribbean it was not.
Scurvy, a disease that develops from a lack of vitamin C, was rampant among sailors and passengers alike. The disease caused severe fatigue and muscle soreness, ultimately leading to death if not treated.
Fresh water was also unavailable, no water filters in those days. The drink of choice for sailors from across the Atlantic was not rum (as pirate stories would have you believe), but whiskey.
These clever sailors soon realised that they didn't need to eat 10 oranges or lemons a day to keep scurvy at bay - they could simply add it to their whiskey and kill two birds with one stone; add a tasty sour citrus flavor to their tipple, and get their daily dose of vitamin C in one hit!
And that folks, we have (what we believe) is the original Whisky Sour.
Alternative Whiskey Sour Names
Depending on how the cocktail is made, it can have a few different names.
For example, when the whisky (without the e) is made with scotch whiskey, the drink is known as a Scotch Sour, or if a few spoon fulls of red wine are added to the top, it is often known as a New York Sour.
No matter the origin or method, we can all agree that the Whiskey Sour is a must have for every cocktail menu, and a staple in the repertoire of every bar nationwide.
So here's to National Whiskey Sour Day, enjoy our recipe featuring Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Nestor's Woodford Reserve Whiskey Sour Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 2 parts Woodford Reserve
- 1 part lemon juice
- ½ part sugar syrup
- ½ part egg white
- Cubed ice
COCKTAIL TOOLS
- Cocktail shaker cup with lid
- Strainer
- Cocktail Jigger
Garnish - Citrus slice and cherry
* for this cocktail we make one per person, using a cocktail measurement jigger, if you would like to make a batch just make sure it's 2 parts / 1 parts / 1/2 part.
METHOD
Step 1 - Add ice to shaker.
Step 2 - Add all drink ingredients to shaker and shake well for 20-30 seconds to chill the liquid and aerate the egg whites.
Step 3 - Add fresh ice to glass and strain mixture over the top.
Step 4 - Garnish drink with lemon or orange slice and cherry.
Step 5 - Serve and Enjoy!
>