4 Sour cocktails You Can Make in Less Than 3 Minutes

In the latest episode of Absolut Drinks with Rico, Rico shows how to make four different Sours in under three minutes each. And the best part is you don’t even need a fully stocked bar to make them.

You can use whatever spirit you’ve got kicking around – that bottle of amaretto you’ve had pushed in the back of the cupboard, a half-used bottle of whiskey, or that pisco you bought for one recipe and never touched again.

Sours are the inspiration behind countless classic and modern drinks and one of the oldest and most beloved cocktail families out there. Why? Because Sours are easy-to-make drinks that are beautifully balanced and seriously delicious.

Here’s what Rico has on the menu:

1. Amaretto Sour

The Amaretto Sour is a sweet, nutty cocktail with a smooth, velvety texture and marzipan-like flavour. It’s a classic sour that works especially well for anyone who enjoys after-dinner drinks.

Ingredients

• 50 ml amaretto
• 30 ml lemon juice
• 20 ml simple syrup
• 10 ml egg white

Garnish with a maraschino cherry to boost those sweet almond notes and an orange wedge.

One of the keys to a great sour is fine straining, so you get that velvety, smooth cocktail foam. And the Amaretto Sour is no exception. Learn how to double strain a cocktail.

2. Whiskey Sour

Classic, bold, and timeless, the Whiskey Sour is the original sour – the one that kicked off the whole family back in the mid-1800s. It’s all about balance: the warmth of whiskey, the sharpness of citrus, and just enough sweetness to tie it all together.

It mixes bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white. Don’t want to use simple syrup? Check out this article where we list some simple syrup alternatives.

Ingredients

• 50 ml whiskey
• 30 ml lemon juice
• 20 ml simple syrup
• 10 ml egg white

To finish, the Whiskey Sour is garnished with a lemon twist, a maraschino cherry, and a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters. Classic cocktails don’t get much better than a Whiskey Sour.

3. New York Sour

Bold, eye-catching, and a little bit extra; the New York Sour is what happens when a Whiskey Sour gets a Manhattan-style makeover.

You’ve still got that same sharp, citrusy backbone and velvety texture, but now there’s rye whiskey instead of bourbon and…wait for it…a silky red wine (claret) float on top that adds depth, color, and serious character.

Ingredients

• 50 ml rye whiskey
• 30 ml lemon juice
• 20 ml simple syrup
• 10 ml egg white
• 15 ml claret

It’s a showstopper that looks impressive in the glass – those layered reds and golds – and it’s still built on the same simple sour formula you already know. A New York Sour tastes every bit as good as it looks, and then some.

4. Pisco Sour

A South American icon, the Pisco Sour is bright, citrusy, silky, and aromatic, with that beautiful foam on top – a must-try if you’ve never had one.

Like all sours, it’s an easy-to-make drink you can shake up in under 3 minutes, using the same simple formula you’ll see repeatedly in this episode.

Ingredients

• 50 ml pisco
• 30 ml lemon juice
• 20 ml simple syrup
• 10 ml egg white

What is Pisco? Pisco is a spirit from Peru and Chile made from fermented grape juice – think of it as a cousin to brandy, but more fragrant, and built for citrus. It’s the kind of spirit that turns a simple sour into something a little bit unforgettable. Try it for yourself!

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