Before we get into how to make a New York Sour, you should know that a traditional sour is made up of spirit, citrus, sugar, and sometimes egg white, and it’s the basis for many of today’s most popular cocktails. It’s a diverse group that includes seemingly unrelated classics like the Daiquiri, Pisco Sour, and Whiskey Sour.
We mentioned in a previous article that the Whiskey Sour dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, has stood the test of time and is still a popular cocktail today. It’s spawned plenty of variations, but none are as well-known as the New York Sour.
The New York Sour is a twist on the traditional Whiskey Sour (whiskey, lemon, sugar, egg white) that includes a float of dry red wine. The wine adds aromatic qualities and deep red colour to the drink. The New York Sour dates back to the 1870s or 1880s (depending on who you talk to), though it was known by other names at the time, including the Continental Sour. It’s also possible that the cocktail was invented in Chicago, but the New York title stuck, and hasn’t let go since.
Ingredients:
(Makes 1 Cocktail)
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel or Gamay
- 1 strip lemon zest
How to Make it
Step 1
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Step 2
Add bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup; seal lid on shaker, and shake until chilled and frost forms on the shaker, about 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes.
Step 3
Gently and slowly, pour wine over the back of a spoon held just above the cocktail’s surface, letting the wine float at top of the glass.
Step 4
Pinch lemon peel over the cocktail, and run around the rim of the glass; add peel to the glass as a garnish. Serve immediately.
The New York Sour is one of those cocktails that is relatively easy to make but looks and tastes complex. As a result, whether you’re flying solo or serving a crowd, it has all the characteristics you want when mixing drinks. You should definitely add this one to your sophisticated boozing library.
