Chef John's Whiskey Sour

Name: Chef John's Whiskey Sour
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients: ½ cup white sugar; ¼ cup water; 2 fluid ounces 100-proof bourbon whiskey; 1 fluid ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice; 4 drops orange bitters, or more to taste; 1 large egg white; ice cubes as needed

5 Ratings
5 Reviews
2 Photos

Day drinking is the best drinking, and if that day happens to be a very sunny, hot day, there's no better cocktail to enjoy than a classic whiskey sour. I'm very excited to show you my favorite formula for this incredibly refreshing, super simple, absolutely delicious drink. Garnish with a slice of blood orange and a Luxardo cherry.

Recipe by Chef John

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Read the full recipe after the video.

Recipe Summary

prep:

10 mins

cook:

5 mins

additional:

15 mins

total:

30 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 cocktail

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 1 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

For the Simple Syrup (makes about 1/2 cup):

½ cup white sugar
¼ cup water

Cocktail:

2 fluid ounces 100-proof bourbon whiskey
1 fluid ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 drops orange bitters, or more to taste
1 large egg white
ice cubes as needed

Directions

Step 1
Bring sugar and water to a simmer in a small pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat, transfer to a bowl, and let syrup cool completely before using, 15 to 20 minutes.n

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Step 2
Pour 3/4 fluid ounce simple syrup, bourbon, lemon juice, bitters, and egg white into a large cocktail shaker. Cover with a smaller cocktail shaker, or top, and give the cocktail a "dry shake" without ice, about 30 seconds.n
Step 3
Add 3 ice cubes to the mixture, cover, and shake vigorously until the shaker is very cold and the outside is frosty, about 45 seconds. Uncover and strain into a rocks glass containing one large ice cube. Serve immediately.n

Chef's Note:

You can use regular bitters instead of orange if you like.

Editor's Notes:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of simple syrup. The actual amount of syrup consumed is 3/4 fluid ounces per cocktail.

This recipe contains raw egg. We recommend that pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and the infirm do not consume raw egg.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

555 calories; protein 3.7g; carbohydrates 103.9g; sodium 60mg. Full Nutrition

What did you think of this recipe? Share your experience to help others.

Ed Adams

06/12/2020

As always, Chef John hits it out of the park. I feel somewhat responsible for this recipe since I pestered and pestered for it so you are all welcome :). Seriously, thank you Chef. Made this the second you posted it. I like it with the egg white, my Michelle does not.

5 Ratings

5 star values: 5
4 star values: 0
3 star values: 0
2 star values: 0
1 star values: 0

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Ed Adams

06/12/2020

Jan Stander

07/01/2020

Great recipe, really enjoyed. I found 3/4 oz syrup was a bit too sweet for my taste, so I just use 1/2 ounce syrup.

KSBRAUN

06/10/2020

Beautiful and Delicious. Perfect quarantine drink!!

Tony King

06/09/2020

Wow, that’s delicious! This will be my Summer of 2020 drink!

Perry Willis

06/28/2020

Excellent proportions. More egg white than I usually use, but you can't argue with velvety mouth feel. I prefer to use an immersion blender rather than a dry shake. I get a frothier result and none of the "leakage" I sometimes get with a dry shake.

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Chef John's Whiskey Sour

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Chef's Note:

Editor's Notes:

Nutrition Facts

Reviews (5)

Most helpful positive review

All Reviews for Chef John's Whiskey Sour

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Chef John's Whiskey Sour

Gallery

Recipe Summary

Ingredients

Directions

Chef's Note:

Editor's Notes:

Nutrition Facts

Reviews (5)

Most helpful positive review

All Reviews for Chef John's Whiskey Sour