Let’s face it, you’ve had your fair share of whiskey sours in your life. It’s a pretty basic drink, made even worse by the addition of store-bought sour mix. It’s time to open your eyes to a whole new world of sour cocktails. If you enjoy whiskey, you can still drink it. But, at least try some cocktails made with tequila, gin, Pisco and even Cynar. Want to satisfy your inner Warheads lover? Here are 9 great sour cocktails to pucker up to.
Penicillin
No sour cocktails list is complete without potentially the greatest cocktail created in the 2st century. Created at Milk & Honey (before being added to cocktail menus all over the US), the drink consists of blended Scotch Whisky, honey-ginger syrup, lemon juice and a smoky Islay Scotch. Recipe
Pisco Sour
If you’re trying to get away from the regular whiskey sour, but you’re still trying to stay on the same page, look no further than the pisco sour. This simple yet delicious cocktail is made using pisco (clear brandy made in Peru and Chile), lime juice, simple syrup, angostura bitters and an egg white. Recipe
Tart N’ Sand
This cocktail is a tart way to enjoy Scotch Whisky. This is perfect for fans of the original whiskey sour who are looking to branch out. It’s made with scotch (Glenfiddich 12), maraschino cherries, blood orange liqueur, lillet, grapefruit juice and a few other mouth-puckering ingredients. Recipe
The Hunny
Drinking vinegar is the ingredient that gives this popular cocktail its added sour kick. Also in the mix is tequila, lime juice and grapefruit juice. This zesty cocktail is one of the most popular at Portland, Oregon’s legendary restaurant Pok Pok. Recipe
Veranda Way
This fresh cocktail, from Scofflaw in Chicago, is made with gin, Aperol, Tepache, lime juice and simple syrup. It’s the perfect cocktail to enjoy while you silently wait for winter to finally end while pretending it’s already spring. Plus, if you like it, you can drink it all summer. Recipe
Gin Fizz
Fans of the gin fizz will loudly proclaim that this drink isn’t just a fizzier version of your favorite sour. This classic cocktail is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white and club soda. Recipe
Pineapple Tequila Sour
If you’ve been drinking whiskey sours your whole life, you probably didn’t even realize that you can make versions of the popular drink using other spirits. This drink calls for tequila as well as agave, pineapple juice and lemon juice for a sour kick. Recipe
Cynar Sour
For those uninformed, Cynar is an Italian bitter liqueur made from a bunch of different herbs and ingredients, the most prevalent being artichokes. This Italian take on the original whiskey sour uses the aforementioned spirit as well as maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, agave nectar and a few other ingredients. Recipe
Poor Richard
Born at Atlanta’s Ticonderoga Club, Poor Richard has tart on point. It starts with dry cider along with cranberry cordial, Italian red vermouth and lemon juice. The alcohol content is low so you can pucker up with a few of these bad boys in one sitting. Recipe
