Not only is the New York Sour cocktail stunning, but the combination of flavors and the silky texture makes this one hell of a winner! This New York Sour recipe consists of a classic whiskey sour base finished with a red wine float.
I first came to know the New York Sour when I was a waitress—knowing very little about whiskey then, I recommended it purely for it’s visual appeal. I now have many more reasons for why you should try this glorious cocktail.
I’m a whiskey sour kind of person—but it has to be a GOOD whiskey sour. No sweet and sour mix, instead I want a cocktail made with the real stuff—lemon juice and egg white.
What is a New York Sour?
On its most basic level, the New York Sour is basically a whiskey sour with a float of red wine to finish. Why red wine? Well, a splash of dry red wine balances the lightly sweet whiskey sour base and adds depth of flavor.
What goes into a New York Sour?
- Whiskey
- Fresh lemon juice
- Simple syrup (or maple syrup, which I prefer)
- Egg white (fresh or pasteurized from a jug if you prefer)
- Dry red wine
The whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white get shaken together and poured over ice. Then a splash of dry red wine is gently poured over top to create three stunning layers and one killer cocktail.
What kind of whiskey to use
Rule number one, use a whiskey you like! But if you need a but of guidance, I recommend using rye whiskey!
What kind of red wine to use
Like I said with the whiskey—rule number one is to use a wine you like.
However, since the cocktail features a bit of simple syrup or maple syrup, I recommend using a dry red wine. Some sources recommend a fruity red wine, but between the lemon and the simple syrup, I find a dry red wine does a better job of balancing the cocktail’s flavors.
Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Zinfandel will work great here.
More cocktail recipes you may like…
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The Best New York Sour Cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: no-cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
The New York Sour achieves the perfect balance of flavors—sweet, tart, warm, and slightly dry. Stunning and classic!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Rye or bourbon whiskey
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce egg white (optional)
- ¾ ounce pure maple syrup (or simple syrup)
- ½ ounce dry red wine
Instructions
Add whiskey, lemon juice, egg white and syrup in a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice) for 20 seconds. Add a few cubes of fresh ice and shake 30 seconds until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Slowly pour wine over the back of a bar spoon so that the wine floats on top of the drink.
Notes
Egg white: for ease and food safety reasons, use pasteurized egg whites. You can find them sold next to the eggs in a carton,
Keywords: new york sour, whiskey sour, whiskey cocktail, red wine cocktail
Absolutely loved this sour whiskey recipe, it’s great to play with the flavors of your cocktail and try something different. Thank you for sharing this, definitely one of the best sour whiskey recipes I have found on the internet.
★★★★★
Hi Tommy! I am so glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of my favorites as well! 🙂