Sour (cocktail) facts for kids
| Cocktail | |
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A whiskey sour, a type of sour drink, with lemon and cherries.
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| Type | Cocktail family |
| Common alcohol(s) | |
| Notes | See the article for specifics. |
A sour is a traditional type of mixed drink. Sours are among the oldest kinds of mixed drinks. They were first described by Jerry Thomas in his 1862 book How to Mix Drinks.
Sours are mixed drinks that usually contain a main flavor, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener like simple syrup. Some sours also include egg whites. These drinks are known for their balance of tart (sour) and sweet flavors.
Contents
Exploring Different Sours
Gin Sour
The gin sour is a classic mixed drink. It was popular long before the time of Prohibition in the United States. It is a simple mix of gin (a type of spirit), lemon juice, and sugar. If you add bubbly water to it, it becomes a gin fizz.
This drink was very popular in the 1940s. It is seen as a historical drink that reminds people of an earlier time.
Pisco Sour
The classic Pisco Sour recipe uses pisco brandy (a type of grape spirit from Chile and Peru). It also has fresh lime juice, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, and bitters. It is mixed by shaking and then poured into a glass. It is often decorated with bitters or cinnamon. Adding egg white makes a foamy top when shaken.
While the pisco sour usually has lime flavor, pisco can be mixed with other fruits. Examples include mango, maracuya (passion fruit), or lucuma. Peru celebrates a National Pisco Sour Day in mid-February. Chile has its Pisco Day in mid-May.
Rum Sour
The basic Daiquiri is sometimes called a Daiquiri sour. It is made with rum (a type of spirit), lime juice, and simple syrup. One story says that the general manager of a mine called "Daiquiri" ran out of gin one night. He used rum instead to make drinks for his guests. This rum sour then became known as the Daiquiri. However, older recipes for rum sours exist, like one from Jerry Thomas in 1887.
Whiskey Sour
The whiskey sour is a mixed drink. It contains bourbon whiskey or rye whiskey (types of spirits), lemon juice, and sugar. Sometimes, a dash of egg white is added to make it a Boston Sour. It is shaken and served either without ice or over ice. It is often decorated with half an orange slice and a maraschino cherry. If red wine is floated on top, it is called a New York Sour.
A well-known version of the whiskey sour is the Ward 8. This drink often uses bourbon or rye whiskey, both lemon and orange juices, and grenadine syrup for sweetness. The egg white that is sometimes used in other whiskey sours is usually not included in this version.
Other Types of Sours
- Amaretto Sour: Made with Amaretto liqueur (a sweet almond-flavored spirit), lemon juice, and sometimes egg white or sugar syrup.
- Brandy Sour or Brandy Daisy (from Jerry Thomas, 1887): Uses brandy (a type of spirit), clear or orange curaçao (a citrus-flavored liqueur), sugar, and lemon juice.
- Caipirinha: A Brazilian drink made with Cachaça (a Brazilian spirit), sugar, lime, and ice.
- Cypriot Brandy Sour: From Cyprus, made with Cyprus brandy, lemon cordial, and bitters. It is topped with soda or lemonade.
- Midori Sour: Made with honeydew melon liqueur (a sweet melon-flavored spirit), grenadine, and lemon juice.
- Santa Cruz Sour (from Jerry Thomas, 1887): Uses Santa Cruz rum (a type of spirit), sugar, and lemon juice.
- Tequila Sour: Made with Tequila (a type of spirit), lemon juice, lime juice, agave nectar, and egg white.
See also
In Spanish: Cóctel tipo Sour para niños
