ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Cocktail: How to Make a Vodka Sour

A spicy twist on the classic Sour, the ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour combines chili vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and a foamy egg white top, shaken and strained over ice.

The heat from that first sip always catches people off guard — in the best way. Behind the citrus and sweetness of the classic Sour formula, ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ brings real spiciness, building slowly rather than hitting all at once. It’s a drink that’s always talked about long after the glass is empty.

How Can You Make a Vodka Sour with ABSOLUT® TABASCO™? 

Making a Vodka Sour with ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ is easy. Here’s everything you need to make one at home:

• 50 ml ABSOLUT® TABASCO™
• 30 ml Lemon Juice
• 20 ml Simple Syrup
• 10 ml Egg White or Aquafaba
• Lemon Zest, to garnish

Egg white creates the classic silky foam on top of the drink. Aquafaba — the liquid from a tin of chickpeas — does exactly the same job for an egg-free version. Check out this article to learn everything you need to know about aquafaba.

What Tools Do I Need to Make an ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour?

You need a few basic bar tools to make an ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour, but none are essential. Here’s what to use, and what to swap in if you don’t have them:

• Jigger: or other measuring instrument.
• Citrus press or citrus elbow: or squeeze the fruit by hand over a small sieve to catch the seeds.
• Cocktail shaker: or a clean jar with a tight lid.
• Hawthorne strainer: or a small kitchen sieve.
• Rocks glass: or any short tumbler.
• Knife or peeler, for the zest garnish: a sharp vegetable peeler works just as well.
• Ice cubes for shaking, plus one large ice cube for serving: if you don’t have a large cube, use a few regular cubes instead.

How Do You Make an ABSOLUT® TABASCO™  Step-by-Step?

Once you’ve got your tools ready, making an ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour takes just a couple of minutes.

1. Measure 50 ml ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ and add it to a shaker.
2. Juice a fresh lemon and add 30 ml lemon juice.
3. Add 20 ml simple syrup.
4. Add 10 ml egg white or aquafaba.
5. Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for 10–15 seconds.
6. Place one large ice cube in a rocks glass and strain the cocktail over it.
7. Garnish with a twist of lemon zest.

Watch how to make the ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour:

What Are Some Tips for Making the Best ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour?

These four simple techniques make a real difference to the taste of an ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ Vodka Sour:

• Use fresh lemon juice, not bottled. Bottled juice loses acidity over time, and that sharpness is what holds the whole drink together. A citrus press speeds things up, but squeezing by hand works fine too.
• No jigger? A measuring jug works just as well, as long as you’re keeping the ratios consistent.
• No cocktail shaker on hand? A jar with a tight-fitting lid does the job just as well.
• No Hawthorne strainer? A regular kitchen strainer, or pouring slowly and carefully, will keep any unwanted ice shards or lemon pips out of the glass.

Looking for more ABSOLUT® TABASCO™ recipes? Check out these 4 drinks to make with ABSOLUT® TABASCO™.