A foundational member of the sour family, the Whiskey Sour balances bourbon's warm sweetness against bright lemon and a measured dose of sugar, with an optional egg white lending a silky cap of foam. The template — spirit, citrus, sweetener — was codified in print by Jerry Thomas in 1862, and the drink itself surfaces in American newspapers by 1870, with a competing legend crediting an Englishman named Elliott Stubb in 1872 Chile. It remains a benchmark of the genre: simple, structural, endlessly riffable.
Garnish: Maraschino Cherry, Orange Wheel
Shaken · Rocks · Large cube
add
Combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) in a shaker.
shake
If using egg white, dry-shake first without ice to build foam, then add ice and shake again until well chilled; otherwise shake hard with ice.
strain
Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large cube (or serve straight up).
garnish
Garnish with a maraschino cherry and, optionally, a half orange slice.