A sour is an iconic type of cocktail. Even if you dont realize it, youve probably had one before, as classics like the daiquiri, margarita, and Cosmopolitan are all sour cocktails. Though it sounds unpleasantly puckery, a sour has a well-balanced ratio—its a time-honored combination that continues to work. The sour is having a renaissance right now, so were digging into the origins and applications of a much-loved, but perhaps under-appreciated type of drink with the help of cocktail professionals.
Sours are mixed drinks containing a base liquor, lemon or lime juice, and a sweetener (simple syrup or orgeat syrup). Egg whites are also included in some sours.
A Little History
Legend has it that the roots of this flavor combination go back to the 1700s, when sailors often had bouts of scurvy due to vitamin C deficiency while at sea. When it was discovered that citrus could help prevent scurvy, the British Royal Navy added lemons and limes to their ration kits (earning these sailors the nickname Limeys). It didnt take long for these sailors to discover that their citrus was, in fact, delicious with the rum and sugarcane theyd consume as they sailed through the Caribbean.
Why Sours Are So Popular Right Now
Cocktails are currently being ordered at a rapid pace in bars and restaurants across the country—and there are a lot of sour drinks in the mix. “More cocktails always mean more sours,” says Jimenez. One reason is that after a couple of years of staying at home, where most of us found it simplest to open a bottle of wine or a beer, were now craving the delicious concoctions a professional bartender creates.
Jimenez also credits the rise in “ready to drink” cocktails (aka RTDs, which are pre-mixed in bottles or cans), to an increase in cocktail orders at the bar: “Now that quality highball RTDs are easily accessible to the guest, they venture out more when they go out.”
5 x Classic Sour Cocktail Recipes (Whiskey, Aperol, Midori, Amaretto & Pisco Sour!)
FAQ
How do you add sourness to a cocktail?
What are the components of a sour?
What is the difference between a fix and a sour cocktail?
Do all sour cocktails have egg white?
What is sour mix in a cocktail?
Sour mix is also a shortcut for cocktails that call for simple syrup and either lemon or lime juices separately. It’s useful for many of the classic cocktails that were developed before sour mix was widely used in the bar. For instance, you can replace the syrup and lemon juice of the Tom Collins with a single shot of sour mix.
What causes a sour taste?
The sour taste can be due to a dry tongue caused by dehydration and inadequate intake of water. The other reasons are poor oral hygiene, not brushing the teeth properly, smoking, and increased age. Taking certain medications and cancer therapy also causes a sour taste. Acidity and gastroesophageal reflux disease also lead to a sour taste. Certain infections, fever, and sickness are also the causes of sour taste.
What is a sour drink?
Sours are near and dear to Alex and me: they are my favorite family of drinks, so we’ve set out on a quest to try them all. Liquor: Sours can be made with just about any spirit: whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, and brandy. Citrus (the “sour”): Usually you’ll see lemon juice or lime juice, but some variations have grapefruit or orange.
Are sour cocktails out of fashion?
Sour Cocktails will never get out of fashion. They are a perfect example of how to combine ingredients in mixed drinks and make them work. Usually, you can find at least one version on the menu of a cocktail bar. They are perfectly balanced, sweet, and sour & you can add egg white to create a beautiful texture.