Add some red wine to your whiskey sour because why not

Do you prefer your whiskey sour with a red wine float or without?

By Georgina Torbet Published August 26, 2024

Starward Whisky

The sour is the archetype from which hundreds of cocktails descend: the simple, classic, and delicious combination of spirit, lemon juice, and sugar is a springboard for endless variations. And what better day to consider this hallowed icon of every drinks menu than today, Sunday August 25, National Whiskey Sour Day.

A whiskey sour is one of the first cocktails many people try, and it remains the pinnacle for many. The classic recipe is simple and to the point, with no nonsense and no fuss. But there’s also an immensely popular variation of the whiskey sour which is back in fashion in a big way — the New York sour. This keeps the same base of whiskey shaken with lemon and simple syrup, but once you’ve strained that into your rocks glass you add another ingredient. You float a small amount of red wine over the drink to add rich color and deep, tannin-y taste.

Recommended Videos

As strange a combination as that sounds, it has stuck around because the fruity, rich red wine plays really well with the fruity, boozy taste of the whiskey. If you’re interested in trying it out, below are two variations of the New York sour, from Starward Whisky and Templeton Whiskey. And as a bonus, there’s a cherry variation on the sour as well.

Starward Whisky’s New World Sour

Death & Co — Starward Whisky

Ingredients:

2 oz Starward Two-Fold Whisky
1 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
1.5 oz Australian Red Wine

Method:

Add Two-Fold, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker. Add ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with Australian Red Wine

Templeton Whiskey’s Templeton Sour

Templeton Whiskey

Ingredients:

2 oz Templeton Rye 6 Year
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1 Egg White
1 oz Malbec

Method:

Add all ingredients except the Malbec to a shaker and do a dry shake (no ice). Then add ice and shake again. Strain into a rocks glass filed with ice and float with the Malbec.

Templeton Whiskey’s Cherry Blossom Whiskey Sour

Templeton Whiskey

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Templeton Midnight Rye
0.5 oz Yuzu Liqueur
0.75 oz Simple Syrup
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
3 dashes Cherry Bitters

Method:

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and add a float of the Midnight Rye. Garnish with a cherry skewer.

Georgina Torbet

Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…

Food & Drink

Why Irish whiskey deserves more than just a St. Patrick’s Day toast

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, It's time to learn about the whiskey of the Irish

Scotch

Since we’re only a few days from St. Patrick’s Day, the timing is right to get into the world of Irish whiskey. But if March is the only time of the year when you crack open a bottle of Teeling, Redbreast, or Green Spot, you’re really missing out on some exceptional Irish whiskeys for the remaining 11 months.

In my almost two decades of writing about alcohol, I’ve encountered whiskey from all corners of the globe. And I learned that there might be no whiskey style more underrated than Irish whiskey. There’s so much more to this geographically specific whiskey style than just Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore D.E.W. (although all of these brands deserve a spot on your home bar).

Food & Drink

Rum vs. whiskey: Understanding the key differences in your favorite spirits

What's the difference between rum and whiskey

Whiskey

The hard liquor world is extremely immersive, and to the novice, it can seem fairly overwhelming. It’s okay, I completely get it. I’ve been writing about alcohol for almost twenty years, and I didn’t learn the intricacies of each major spirit type overnight. It took years of tastings, traveling, and research (aka drinking).

Even if you avoid lesser-known spirits, there are still a whole slew of different whiskey types to learn about (bourbon, rye, single malt Scotch, American single malt, Canadian whisky, Irish whiskey, and beyond), and then there’s gin, vodka, tequila, mezcal, and rum. It’s enough to make you want to climb under your covers and not come out until spring or until you magically learn all the basics of every spirit. At least enough to have a basic conversation at a get together with friends.

Food & Drink

What is a black tie coffee? Why it might become your new favorite drink

A blend of sweet and spicy

Iced coffee with cream

Part of what makes the world of coffee so fascinating is that there's always something new to learn. If you think you've heard of every type of coffee imaginable, perhaps you'll need to rethink that statement. The black tie coffee offers something unique that other coffee beverages simply do not: the perfect balance between tea and coffee. If you're a tea and coffee lover like me, this drink could become your new favorite. Here's what you need to know about the "black tie coffee" and how to make it.
How to make black tie coffee

Ordering a black tie coffee at your local cafe isn't relatively as easy as ordering an iced latte. While you might find this specialty beverage more easily abroad, it's hard to come by on coffee shop menus throughout the U.S. Luckily; this drink is simple enough to prepare enough on your own at home, even for beginner Baristas. Here's how to make a black tie coffee.
Ingredients