Since its invention in the 1860s, the whiskey sour has remained popular for good reason. Its simple recipe combines alcohol, citrus, and sugar, sometimes with egg white, to create a refreshing drink with many nuances. It’s easy to showcase different whiskey traits while adjusting the acidity and sweetness for the best drinkability. While most whiskey sours only use lemon juice, the inclusion of freshly squeezed orange juice gives the drink a lighter, sweeter feel.

The addition of orange juice not only enhances the flavor by adding a touch of sweetness but also affects the texture of the cocktail. The result is a softer concoction that can be paired with a richly flavored whiskey. Meanwhile, lemon juice is still used to maintain an acidic balance, which can be tweaked according to taste. The unique character of this versatile cocktail can be further modified by altering the proportions of whiskey and simple syrup. Let’s explore a few remarkable variations.

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Those who prefer a sweeter whiskey sour can use a bourbon base and increase the quantity of orange juice. Such versions can contain almost one-and-a-half-part orange to lemon, although some of the latter’s acidic sharpness is essential. After all, it’s a sour. When making this version, lower the amount of sugar syrup to balance the sweeter flavor of the orange.

Alternatively, imbue only a slight orange character by utilizing two-parts lemon to one-part orange juice. This is better aligned with a bolder whiskey, like rye, and is well-suited to incorporating an egg white topping for added fluffiness. The inclusion of rich, simple syrup further plays to a decadent mouthfeel since it gives the drink a thicker consistency. This would make it more of a classic whiskey sour.

If craving an even deeper orange flavor, consider integrating the citrus in other forms. You could craft a syrup with the orange — opting for a sweet flavorful fruit variety like cara cara — and also including the rind, for a powerful full-fruit flavor. Finally, you can rim the glass with a malty brown sugar, top the egg white foam with orange bitters and garnish with a dried orange slice or grated orange zest, for an impressive effect.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.