Skip to main content

A Brief History of The Whiskey Sour

how to make a whiskey sour
Dan Baker/The Manual

The Whiskey Sour officially dates back to the 1860s, but sailors in the British Navy had been drinking something very similar long before that. On long sea journeys, water was not always dependable, so to combat that, spirits were often used. Scurvy, too, was another danger on these journeys, so lemons and limes were consumed to help prevent the disease (incidentally, this is also one of the reasons why British folk are called ‘Limeys’). Finally, sugar and water were added for taste. At this point, the drink is probably starting to sound familiar. (Grog, the rum-based favorite of pirates across the seven seas, is made from the same components, substituting whiskey for the sugar cane-based spirit.)

When it comes to the official record, there are three main points of reference for the Whiskey Sour. The first written record comes in the seminal 1862 book The Bartender’s Guide: How To Mix Drinks by Jerry Thomas. The original recipe reads:

Original Whiskey Sour Recipe

  • (Use a small bar-glass.)
  • Take 1 large tea-spoonful of powdered white sugar dissolved in a little Seltzer or Apollinaris water
  • The juice of half a small lemon
  • 1 wine-glass of Bourbon or rye whiskey

Fill the glass full of shaved ice, shake up and strain into a claret glass. Ornament with berries.

(This recipe differs from the modern-day version in the style of glass and the type of ice used, but the prototype was there.)

The next reference comes from, of all places, an 1870 edition of the Waukesha Plainsdealer, a Wisconsin newspaper. The final reference to the drink comes two years later, in 1872. A former ship steward, Elliot Staub, “invented” a drink — the whiskey sour — in a bar in Iquique (then part of Peru). Through these three origins, we come to, more or less, what we have today–a cocktail that mixes a spirit, a sour, and a sweet.

Now that you’re read up and prepared for the day, it’s time to dive in. Check out George Dickel’s version of the original, then a few other takes on this iconic drink.

Whiskey Sour Recipe Variants

George Dickel Whisky Sour
(Pictured)

Method: Shake and strain ingredients into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge or cherry.

Dewar’s Sour Rouge
(Created by Cyllan Hicks, New York City)

Method: Shake and pour over rocks. Add Lillet Rouge as floater. Garnish with lemon wheel and rosemary sprig.

Jeff’s Redneck Sour

  • 1.25 oz. Bulleit Rye
  • 1 oz. fresh lemon sour
  • 5 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
  • 2 dashes grapefruit bitters

Method: Shake and strain ingredients into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit half wheel.

Basil Hayden’s Summer Sour
(By San Francisco Mixologist Matt Grippo) 

Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously for ten seconds. Strain into an iced filled rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

Knob Creek Citrus Sour
(By Celebrity Chef Michael Symon)
  • 1 ½ parts Knob Creek Bourbon
  • ½ part Lemon Juice
  • ½ part Simple Syrup
  • 2 parts Orangina Soda
  • 5 sprigs Thyme
  • 1 Egg White
Method: Muddle thyme and simple syrup thoroughly in the bottom of the shaker. Combine with lemon juice, bourbon and egg white. Add ice and shake vigorously for one minute. Strain over ice and float with Orangina soda. Garnish with a few sprigs of thyme.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
The 10 best recipe apps to channel your inner chef
Looking for a great home-cooked meal? Download these recipe apps, and you'll be cooking it up in no time
Man using smartphone while preparing food in the kitchen

We now spend a lot of time on our cell phones searching for recipes. Our new normal has led us to get in touch with our inner chefs. We also learned that searching for recipes via the web on your mobile device can be a laborious task in and of itself. And nine times out of 10, when you find a recipe that looks good, you're directed to a food blog where you have to scroll through pages of the author's story about the dish's history, where they got the ingredients, what the food means to them, and other SEO filler. Not to mention the pop-up ads!

If you haven't realized it by now, this is where recipe apps come in very handy. In some instances, you'll have to endure ads (mostly in free apps), but in most cases, recipe apps are direct and to the point. They take you to the recipe, with a clear list of ingredients and how to prepare them. They have a photo with the finished product (which you hope you can match), and that's it. Some apps even have set-by-set video instructions to walk you through the cooking process. Unlike food blogs, you can choose to click on additional content. Plus, depending on the app, they have many other valuable features. Some apps are dedicated to your dietary restrictions (plant-based/vegan, keto, etc.).

Read more
The best drinking card games to beat the summer heat and boredom
Enjoy a beverage with friends while playing these great drinking card games
Friends playing drinking card game

Everyone loves a good drinking game, this much is true. The very best of them tend to be drinking card games. Makes sense, who wouldn't want to revisit those old college memories of playing King's Cup? Or learn a new game by gathering (safely) with friends to play a drinking card game or two? With a bit of ingenuity, some of these games could even be played virtually; for example, you could designate a dealer in each house to make sure all the cards line up and are the same for each player. Sure, it's a little more complicated, but a good game with your buddies is worth it.

We've got the rules for some of our favorite drinking card games, below, along with some more elaborate ones you can buy online. Cheers!

Read more
You’re probably making these 9 mistakes with asparagus
It's time to show this springtime favorite a little more respect
Oiled asparagus on a baking sheet

Spring is well underway, so it's time to put the rich, hearty winter meals on the back burner and resurrect all fresh, green, and vibrant things. Springtime means picnics among the budding flower gardens, with fresh vegetables bursting with life and sunshine.

One of our favorite vegetables is asparagus. When done right, this little weirdo of the vegetable world is one of the most delectable spring ingredients. Sadly, despite our best efforts, we often rob this little green stalk of all its goodness before it even gets to the picnic basket. We say; it's time to turn that around. To honor this springtime gem the way it should be marked, we've compiled a list of crimes against asparagus we vow never to commit again.
1. Not eating it in season
We live in a time when almost any ingredient can be purchased year-round at grocery stores without a second thought. No matter the month, you can have an array of out-of-season fresh fruits and vegetables on your table with no more than a trip to Safeway.

Read more