Why we love the Boston sour
- I’ve always been a fan of sour cocktails – see my mezcal sour and cherry vodka sour for reference – so we decided to give it a try with whiskey.
- It’s delicate, yet full of flavor. I love the way the egg white mixes with the lemon juice and simple syrup (or homemade sour mix, if you have it).
- The whiskey sour is a classic for a reason. It’s simple and delicious, and this variation is no different.
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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Equipment
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- Whiskey
- Lemon juice
- Simple syrup
- Egg white
How to make a Boston sour
Dry shake. Fill your cocktail shaker with the cocktail ingredients. Shake vigorously without ice to get a nice froth going with the egg white – about 45 seconds.
Cold shake. Add ice to the shaker and shake again until cold. This should take about 30 more seconds or so.
Strain and serve. Strain your cocktail into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist.
I like to serve this cocktail straight up, but you can technically serve a sour on the rocks, too. It’s totally your call. I think with the egg white texture, it’s nice to focus on the drink without ice.
Everything you need to know about the boston sour cocktail
Why is it called a Boston Sour?
The Boston sour is a variation of the whiskey sour. It was created, as its name suggests, in the city of Boston, during American Prohibition. It is said that the egg white was shaken into this classic cocktail to make the crude alcohol of the era a little easier to drink.
Why put egg whites in a cocktail?
Egg whites are added to cocktails to enhance their texture and create a nice frothy finish. It also mellows the acidity in a sour cocktail.
More whiskey cocktails you will love
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Boston Sour
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white, or 3/4 ounce aquafaba
- For garnish: orange twist
Instructions
- Add cocktail ingredients to a shaker without ice.
- Cover and dry shake vigorously, until the egg white is frothy.
- Add ice and shake again until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist.
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