The whiskey sour is a beloved cocktail, yet even the classics can become mundane over time. Fortunately, there’s a fun twist to invigorate this traditional drink: the Monkey Jam Sour, which combines blended Scotch with jam for a sweet and modern take.

At its core, a standard whiskey sour is a mix of whiskey, sugar, and lemon juice, often enhanced with simple syrup and sometimes egg white, providing a silky texture. If you’re worried about altering such an established recipe, remember that cocktail enthusiasts have been experimenting since the very beginning.

The Monkey Jam Sour brings both jam and Monkey Shoulder blended malt Scotch into the mix. Monkey Shoulder is a fantastic introduction to blended malts, featuring a smooth, fruity flavor with hints of vanilla. To create this new concoction, you can modify the classic whiskey sour recipe by replacing the standard whiskey with Monkey Shoulder and adding a few teaspoons of your chosen jam into your cocktail shaker, along with the other ingredients. You can decide whether to include egg white, omit it, or substitute it with aquafaba, and after a vigorous shake—first without ice, then with ice—you’ll have a refreshing drink ready to enjoy.

Tips for Crafting the Perfect Monkey Jam Sour

Making a twist on the whiskey sour with jam is a delightful choice as it adds a unique burst of flavor. While popular variations exist, such as pineapple whiskey sour, the jam inclusion provides a deeper taste. You can use your favorite store-bought jam or, for a personal touch, try making your own.

Some enthusiasts find that marmalade complements the orange notes in Monkey Shoulder nicely, but feel free to experiment with different flavors like apricot, peach, or fig to find what you like best.

When making this cocktail, you don’t have to stick rigidly to the traditional 3-2-1 ratio for the ingredients, as the jam makes it sweeter. If desired, you can enhance the drink with a few dashes of orange bitters or top it up with soda water for a refreshing fizz. Typically, you can serve the Monkey Jam Sour in either a rocks glass or a sour glass, which will help maintain the cocktail’s chill and add an elegant touch to your drink presentation.

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