Boston Sour
The Boston Sour is a strong whiskey sour, sweet and tart on the palate. Shaken and served in a rocks glass.
- 3 min
- Rocks glass
- Shaken
Flavor profile
- Tart
- 53 out of 100
- Sweet
- 74 out of 100
- Creamy
- 45 out of 100
- Smoky
- 33 out of 100
- Boozy
- 53 out of 100
How to make a Boston Sour
To make a Boston Sour, shake with ice and strain into a rocks glass: 2 oz bourbon, ¾ oz lemon juice, ¾ oz simple syrup and 1 egg white. Garnish with lemon and maraschino cherry.
You'll need
- Bourbon2 oz
- Lemon juice¾ oz
- Simple syrup¾ oz
- Egg white1
- Lemon, Maraschino cherrygarnish
Pairs well with: Simple syrup · All syrups
Skip the egg? The Bourbon Sling, the Bourbon Sour or the Whiskey Sour is the same drink without it.
Instructions
- 1
Add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a cocktail shaker.
- 2
Shake hard without ice for about 10 seconds to whip the egg.
- 3
Add ice to the shaker.
- 4
Shake again for 10-15 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold.
- 5
Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
- 6
Garnish with a lemon wheel and a maraschino cherry.
Why shake? Lemon juice needs a hard shake to mix and chill properly; the egg white needs a dry shake first to turn silky.
Boston Sour questions
What does a Boston Sour taste like, and is it sweet?
Yes, it's on the sweet side: it's mostly sweet and tart. It's a strong drink at about 16% ABV once mixed.
How much alcohol is in a Boston Sour?
About 16% ABV after mixing with ice, stronger than wine, lighter than a neat spirit.
What's the difference between a Boston Sour and a Whiskey Sour?
Both use bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup. The Boston Sour adds egg white. The Whiskey Sour is the stronger of the two.
Should a Boston Sour be shaken or stirred?
Shaken: lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white need a hard shake to mix and chill properly. Dry-shake without ice first for a thicker foam.
What glass do you serve a Boston Sour in?
A rocks glass.