Sour (cocktail) facts for kids

A sour is a type of drink that combines a sour fruit juice, like lemon or lime juice, with something sweet, such as simple syrup or orgeat syrup. Sometimes, egg whites are also added to make the drink foamy.

This style of drink has been around for a long time. People have enjoyed balancing sour and sweet flavors in their drinks for many years.

What Makes a Drink a "Sour"?

The main idea behind a "sour" drink is to mix a strong sour taste with a sweet taste. This creates a balanced flavor that is both refreshing and enjoyable.

• Sour part: This usually comes from fresh lemon juice or lime juice.
• Sweet part: This can be a simple sugar syrup, or other sweet syrups.
• Optional additions: Some recipes might include egg whites to create a foamy top, or bitters for a more complex flavor.

Different Kinds of Sour Drinks

Over time, people have created many different sour drinks using various fruits and flavors.

Lemon and Lime Sours

Many sour drinks use lemon or lime juice as their main sour ingredient. These fruits are very popular because their juice is tart and bright.

• Some drinks might add carbonated water to make them bubbly and fizzy.
• The Daiquiri is a well-known example that uses rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. It's famous for its refreshing taste.

Fruit Sours

Besides lemon and lime, other fruits can be used to make sour drinks. This adds different flavors and colors.

• Mango sour: Uses mango for a tropical, sweet-and-sour taste.
• Passion fruit sour: Made with passion fruit, which has a unique tangy and sweet flavor.
• Lucuma sour: Uses lucuma, a fruit from Peru with a creamy, caramel-like taste.

These fruit variations show how creative people can be with the basic sour recipe!

Historical Sour Drinks

Some sour drinks have a long history and were popular many years ago. For example, the gin sour was a popular drink in the 1940s. It combined gin with lemon juice and sugar.

Another historical drink is the whiskey sour, which uses bourbon whiskey or rye whiskey with lemon juice and sugar. Sometimes, egg white is added to make it a "Boston Sour."

Images for kids

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  A whiskey sour, a type of sour drink, garnished with a lemon slice and cherries.

See also

In Spanish: Cóctel tipo Sour para niños