Pucker up, friend, these sour cocktails will have your lips primed to kiss the glassware, sip after sip. Whether you're a fan of crisp sour apple, splashes of juicy citrus, or something a little different, you'll find your next favorite drink right here.
No need to grab the antacid; these are the perfect balance of sweet and sour drinks.
Whiskey Sour
Arguably the most famous of the sour cocktails, what makes some people shy away is the use of egg whites. While the egg white makes this classic drink as sour and savory as it is, you can use aquafaba to get the job done.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Bitters for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Carefully add three to four drops of bitters, dragging a cocktail skewer through to create a design.
Fast Fact
You can serve a whiskey sour over ice in a rocks glass, or in a chilled coupe glass.
Amaretto Sour
More sweet than sour, the amaretto sour is a nutty twist on the typical bite of a whiskey sour.
You can shake an amaretto sour up with wine, add a splash of vodka, or stick with a classic mix. Get your recipes here!
Tequila Sour
Don't mistake a margarita with a tequila sour. While the sour lemon margarita can be a gorgeously tart experience, it's quite different from the tequila sour.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces reposado tequila
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce agave syrup or simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Bitters and lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, lemon juice, lime juice, agave syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with drops of bitters and lime wheel.
New York Sour
The New York sour is a whiskey sour with a red wine float. Yes, it's that simple.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- ¾ ounce merlot or pinot noir
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Slowly create a red wine float by pouring the red wine down the back of a bar spoon. Do not mix.
Army and Navy Cocktail
A classic tailgating cocktail when the Army and Navy face off in football, the Army and Navy cocktail is a nutty gin drink with a pleasantly sour experience. Find the recipe here.
Sour Daiquiri
Lean into the sour lime flavors of a sunny daiquiri.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver rum
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Peruvian Pisco Sour
The timeless pisco sour uses a grape brandy to brighten and distinguish itself from the usual sour cocktails. Get the basic recipe and some tasty variations right here.
Gin Sour
Never fear fellow gin lovers, there's a tart sour cocktail for you too.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dry gin
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Lemon zest for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of lemon zest.
Southside Sour Gin Cocktail
A drink nearly a hundred years old, it's a lemony-minty gin martini with just the right amount of pucker.
Ingredients
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- Ice
- Mint leaf for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle leaves and lemon juice.
- Add ice, gin, and simple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass, allowing a few pieces of muddled mint into the glass.
- Garnish with mint leaf.
Classic Sour Lime Gimlet
Did you know that there's a whole world of tart gimlet cocktails? You can choose:
- The refreshing cucumber gimlet path
- The herbaceous basil gimlet journey
- A simple limey vodka gimlet
- The classic sour gin gimlet road
Novara Campari Sour
A bitter sour that's as eye catchingly bright as it is unique. This is the peacock of sour cocktails.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Campari
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce ginger syrup
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Cocktail cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add Campari, lemon juice, ginger syrup, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cocktail cherry, skewered with a cocktail pick and balanced across the glass.
Sour Lemon Cocktails
Lemon is the poster child of sour, and for good reason. Here are just a few delicious lemony libations to try:
- The tart lemon drop martini (in fact, there's a host of delicious lemon drop martini variations)
- Deliciously sour limoncello cocktails
- The bright and sour lemon marg
- A variety of lemongrass cocktails for a fun, summery sipper
Sour Apple Martini
The sour apple martini has a certain notoriety, but make no mistake, this recipe is far from cloying.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces sour apple vodka
- ¾ ounce green apple liqueur
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, green apple vodka, green apple liqueur, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with apple slice.
Sour Yuzu Cocktails
A beautiful and mind-blowing blend of lemon, lime, and grapefruit, yuzu cocktails are out of this world. Simply put: sour yuzu cocktails are some of the best sour cocktails you've never even heard of. Ready to try them? Get your yuzu drink recipes here.
Find Your Main Squeeze In These Sour Cocktails
You're going to be in a devoted, citrus relationship with this selection of sour cocktails. Sure your friends might say, "are you citrusly having another?" But you won't be able to hear them over the sound of the cocktail shaker.
