The Best Bourbon Sour

Here’s a bourbon sour recipe that’s perfectly balanced with the right ratio of spirit, citrus, and sugar. It has that refreshing sweet-tart taste and silky mouth feel we’re after in a classic sour. It’s easy to make with a handful of ingredients, and it’s ready in just 5 minutes!

A bourbon sour is one of those classic cocktails, like a whiskey sour, that never goes out of style. I love it for its clean, sweet-tart balance and simple preparation, but the key is getting the proportions right. This version adheres to the classic sour formula—bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup—which lets the bourbon’s natural sweetness shine without overpowering the citrus.

I like to add a few drops of cocktail foamer for that light, bubbly mouthfeel, though an egg white works just as well, and you can absolutely skip it if you prefer. Everything gets shaken together until frothy, then strained into a rocks glass. Finished with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, it’s simple, familiar, and incredibly satisfying.

This is my go-to drink for happy hour, casual get-togethers, game nights, and pretty much any occasion that calls for a reliable cocktail. Once you’ve mastered this bourbon sour, you’ve got a timeless recipe you’ll come back to again and again.

Best bourbon to use

There’s no denying that a decent quality bourbon makes a great drink, but there’s no need to pull out your fancy stuff. I use Bulleit bourbon, a mid-range Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that’s subtly complex, dry, and clean but won’t break the bank.

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The Best Bourbon Sour Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 0 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

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Here's a bourbon sour recipe that's perfectly balanced with the right ratio of spirit, citrus, and sugar. It has that refreshing sweet-tart taste and silky mouth feel we're after in a classic sour. It's easy to make with a handful of ingredients, and it's ready in just 5 minutes!

1

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 ounces good-quality bourbon
• ▢ 1 ounce lemon juice
• ▢ 1 ounce simple syrup (see notes)
• ▢ 1-2 drop cocktail foamer (or an egg white) (optional)
• ▢ Marachino cherry and an orange slice (to garnish)

Instructions 

• Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice and add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and if using, cocktail foamer.
  2 ounces good-quality bourbon, 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce simple syrup, 1-2 drop cocktail foamer (or an egg white)
  
• Shake for at least 30 seconds – until there is lots of foam. (If you're not using foamer, simply stir until it's cold.)
  
• Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry and an orange slice.
  Marachino cherry and an orange slice
  

Notes

To make simple syrup, heat 2 parts water with 1 part sugar until the sugar dissolves. For example, use 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Or 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar. Extras will keep in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. 

The foamer is optional and a bourbon sour is still very good without it. If you’re not using the foamer, you can simply stir the ingredients with ice until they’re cold. If you’re serving it with no foam you can also add ice to the glass.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bourbon sour, Calories: 213kcal (11%), Carbohydrates: 23g (8%), Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 17mg (1%), Potassium: 48mg (1%), Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 21g (23%), Vitamin A: 2IU, Vitamin C: 11mg (13%), Calcium: 5mg (1%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.