Your National Whiskey Sour Day Lineup Starts Here

By  Alma Sacasa

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On August 25, we may celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and more. We also celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day, which gives you another reason to have a classic cocktail. There are many other national days in the month of August for cocktails and spirits, but today we raise a glass to the drink that is sour, bitter, and sweet all in one.

The Whiskey Sour is a classic cocktail dating back to the 19th century, though its exact origins are still debated. Another early mention is the drink appearing in the Wisconsin newspaper Waukesha Plain Dealer in 1870, while it’s also traced to Iquique, then a Peruvian port, where an English steward named Elliott Stubb is said to have created the drink in 1872. According to a story published by Argentina’s Universidad de Cuyo in 1962, citing the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio de Iquique, Stubb experimented with whisky and Limón de Pica before adding sugar, ice, and lime juice, which became his favorite drink and was called “Whisky Sour.”

@quixotickingbar

🥃 Why August 25th Belongs to the Whiskey Sour 🍸🏴‍☠️🍍 The Whiskey Sour is more than a cocktail — it’s a piece of history in a glass. 🌍 Its first printed recipe appeared in 1862, in Jerry Thomas’s Bartender’s Guide. But the roots go back to the 18th century, when sailors mixed spirits, citrus, and sugar to fight scurvy on long voyages. By the mid-19th century, American bars had embraced this perfect balance of spirit, citrus, and sweetness. 📜 In 1870, the Whiskey Sour showed up in a Wisconsin newspaper. A few years later, a story spread that a British sailor, Elliott Stubb, introduced it in Peru in 1872 — though historians aren’t sure if that’s fact or legend. As cocktail culture grew, so did the variations: • The Boston Sour: with egg white for a silky texture. • The New York Sour: topped with a float of red wine for a striking finish. Today, it remains one of the most iconic drinks in the world, celebrated every August 25th on National Whiskey Sour Day. ⸻ 🍋 Classic Whiskey Sour (IBA Recipe) • 2 oz (60 ml) Bourbon or Rye Whiskey • 0.75 oz (22 ml) Fresh Lemon Juice • 0.5 oz (15 ml) Simple Syrup ➡️ Shake hard with ice, strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. ➡️ Garnish with an orange slice + maraschino cherry. (Optional: add 0.5 oz / 15 ml egg white and dry shake for the Boston Sour variation.) ⸻ #WhiskeySour #CocktailHistory #ClassicCocktails #NationalWhiskeySourDay #WhiskeyLovers #BourbonCocktails #RyeWhiskey #SourCocktails #Mixology #CocktailCulture #QKB

♬ son original – Quixotic King Bar

No matter who created the Whiskey Sour, the classic cocktail has remained a staple for more than a century, with recipe variations that combine whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and sugar still enjoyed worldwide; some versions add egg white for a smoother texture and frothy finish.

This list will have you trying different variations, so drink responsibly and enjoy every sip.


The Macallan Sour

The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old offers a complex base of subtle butterscotch, apple, and sweet spice, paired with an aromatic Sherry float that suits your whiskey sour.

The Macallan Sour 

  • Ingredients: 
  • The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old 
  • 20ml lemon juice 
  • 10ml brown sugar syrup 
  • Egg white 
  • Oloroso sherry float
  • Method: 
  • Shake all ingredients, except sherry, into an ice filled shaker.
  • Strain into glass over ice.
  • Using a bar spoon, slowly layer the sherry over the top of the cocktail.

Black Whisky Sour

Crown Royal Black makes for the perfect drink that, unlike other recipes, includes egg white. The spirit recently collaborated with Juicy Couture to bring a little Y2K nostalgia to the whisky aisle with a new limited-edition bottle collection that gives Crown Royal’s iconic bag the Juicy treatment. The Crown Royal x Juicy Couture collection is available at select retailers nationwide. And there’s more to come with the collab, so stay tuned.

Black Whisky Sour

  • INGREDIENTS:
  • 1.25 oz Crown Royal Black
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .75 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • INSTRUCTIONS:
  • Glassware: Rocks Glass
  • Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice.
  • Shake well.
  • Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
  • Garnish with a lemon wheel.

High West Whiskey Sour

Another egg white included recipe is the High West Whiskey Sour. Made with High West’s Double Rye which combines a balance of bold rye spice with bright botanical notes showcasing layers of freshness and complexity.

High West Whiskey Sour

  • Ingredients:
  • 1.5 oz High West Double Rye
  • .75 oz simple syrup
  • .75 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • Instructions:
  • Combine in a shaker and shake without ice vigorously to emulsify the egg white.
  • Add ice and shake vigorously again until the tins are cold in your hand.
  • Double-strain into a coupe or Nick & Nora glass.
  • Garnish with brandied cherries if desired.

Jim Beam Black Whiskey Sour

The Jim Beam Black Whiskey Sour offers you a smooth bourbon with zesty citrus for a balanced, refreshing tasting sip of timeless sophistication.

Jim Beam Black Whiskey Sour

  • Ingredients: 
  • 1 part Jim Beam Black 
  • 1 part fresh lemon juice 
  • 3 simple syrup 
  • 0 egg white 
  • Garnish with lemon wheel or wedge
  • Method: 
  • Step 1: Prepare your glass: Chill a rocks glass or cocktail glass by filling it with ice and letting it sit while you prepare the drink, or place the glass in the freezer for a few minutes. Remove the yolk from the egg and keep the egg white. 
  • Step 2: Measure and pour: In a cocktail shaker, add 1 parts Jim Beam Black bourbon, 1 part fresh lemon juice, egg white and 1/2 part simple syrup. 
  • Step 3: Add ice & shake: Fill the shaker with ice cubes, secure the lid of the cocktail shaker tightly and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. 
  • Step 4: Strain. Remove the ice from your chilled glass. Strain the mixture directly into the glass without additional ice for a stronger flavor, or strain the mixture over fresh ice cubes in the glass for a slightly diluted drink. 
  • Step 5: Garnish with a lemon wheel or wedge. 

Bourbon Sour

Another Jim Beam recipe, the Bourbon Sour meets zesty lemon and a touch of sweetness, delivering a classic cocktail with a perfect balance of flavors and sophisticated charm.

Bourbon Sour

  • Ingredients: 
  • 2 parts Jim Beam 
  • 1 part lemon juice 
  • 1/2 part lemon lime soda 
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar 
  • Garnish with lemon wedge and cherry
  • Method: 
  • Step 1: Combine ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cube and pour 2 parts Jim Beam Bourbon into the shaker. Add 1 part fresh lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. 
  • Step 2: Shake and Strain. Shake the mixture vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is well chilled (about 10-15 seconds). Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice cubes. Ensure the sugar is fully dissolved when shaking to avoid any graininess in the cocktail. 
  • Step 3: Stir and Garnish. Top off the drink with 1/2 parts lemon-lime soda. Stir gently to combine. Garnish the drink with a lemon wedge and a cherry. 

On The Rocks Whiskey Sour

The On The Rocks Whiskey Sour also includes Jim Beam, but if you want to avoid mixing and measuring, this drink is perfect because you can just pour it over ice. Celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day with a cocktail that brings bar-quality flavor and convenience to the glass.


Buchanan’s DeLuxe Whisky Sour

It wouldn’t be a celebration without the popular Scotch Whisky! Take a sip of their own version of the classic cocktail and let us know what you think.

Buchanan’s DeLuxe Whisky Sour

  • Ingredients: 
  • 1.5 oz Buchanan’s 12-Year-Old DeLuxe Blended Scotch Whisky
  • .75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • .5 oz Fresh Orange Juice
  • .75 oz Simple Syrup
  • 1 Egg White
  • 3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
  • Glassware: Rocks Glass
  • Garnish: Lemon Peel
  • Method: 
  • Shake all ingredients except ice first for 15 seconds.
  • Add ice and shake until chilled.
  • Strain into ice filled rocks glass.

Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Sour

Yes, we even have a recipe for those who are sober living or expectant mothers who still want to join in on the celebration of August 25th.

Non-Alcoholic Whiskey Sour

  • Ingredients:
  • 2oz Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative
  • .75oz fresh lemon juice
  • .5 oz simple syrup
  • Glassware: Coupe
  • Garnish: cherry or orange slice
  • Method: 
  • Combine Ritual Whiskey Alternative, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
  • Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with your choice of cherry or an orange slice.

The Creamy Tangy Whisky Sour

Creamy is probably not the first thing you think when picturing a whisky sour, but Johnnie Walker Black Label has a recipe for you to try something new.

The Creamy Tangy Whisky Sour

  • Ingredients:
  • 1.5oz Johnnie Walker Black Label*
  • 0.75oz lemon juice
  • 0.5oz egg white
  • 0.3oz Orgeat (almond syrup)
  • Glassware: Rocks
  • Garnish: marshmallow
  • Method: 
  • Add Johnnie Walker Black Label, lemon juice, egg white, and Orgeat into a shaking tin.
  • Add ice, shake, and strain into an ice filled rocks glass.
  • Sear a skewered marshmallow and place on top of the drink to serve.
  • *For a non-alcoholic option, sub Johnnie Walker Black Label with Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative 

Basil Hayden Autumn Whiskey Sour

With a name like Basil Hayden Autumn Whiskey Sour, you’re not only celebrating the national day but gearing up for the fall season.

Basil Hayden Autumn Whiskey Sour

  • INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 parts Basil Hayden Bourbon
  • 1 part Fresh Lemon
  • 3/4 part Honey
  • 2 dashes Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • 1 sprig of Charred Rosemary (for garnish)*
  • METHOD:
  • 1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • 2. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass. Serve neat or on the rocks.
  • 3. Garnish with a sprig of Charred Rosemary.
  • *To char the rosemary sprig, place it over an open flame (either on a grill or stovetop) and rotate for 5-10 seconds until herb begins to smoke and brown slightly.

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