The Scotch Sour
The Scotch Sour is a classically made cocktail with a combination of Scotch whiskey, lemon juice, sugar, egg white, and sometimes bitters. It’s essentially a whiskey-explicit version of the Whiskey Sour, a cocktail that can be made with any type of whiskey, and today in the United States tends to focus on bourbon as the whiskey du jour.
History
The idea to make a sour “anything” cocktail isn’t new, and typically involves a base spirit mixed with some form of tart citrus (usually lemon or lime juice) and something sweet (sugar, syrup, or liqueur) to give it balance. The term itself can be preceded by any spirit type, and drinks like the Gin Sour and Brandy Sour have been enjoyed for over a 100 years, though their popularity has generally been eclipsed by that of the Whiskey Sour.
Prior to the 1900s domestically produced whiskeys made from corn, rye, and wheat had dominated the U.S. market. But Prohibition’s had banned alcohol consumption creating an additional demand for Scotch whiskey. Though it was smuggled into the country illicitly during this period (generally through the Bahamas, which was a British colony at the time), scotch whiskey’s foothold in America lasted far beyond Prohibition’s repeal, and continued it’s growth as whiskey exports expanded after World War II.
Since that time U.S. whiskey production has exploded exponentially, along with an interest in classic-recipe cocktails with their original ingredients. The Whiskey Sour became a mainstay again, and though it was increasingly made with bourbon, the Scotch Sour had already anchored itself among friendly waters.
Ingredients
- Scotch whiskey
- fresh lemon juice
- one egg white
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- simple syrup
- ice cubes
Steps
- Chill a rocks glass by placing it in the freezer or filling it with ice water.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. This will help chill and dilute the ingredients as you shake the cocktail.
- Pour 2 ounces of Scotch whiskey into the shaker.
- Measure and add 3/4 ounce of fresh lemon juice to the shaker.
- Measure and add 1/2 ounce of simple syrup to the shaker.
- Add an egg white to the shaker.
- Add 2 dashes Angostura bitters.
- Put the lid on the shaker and shake the mixture vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. This will both mix and chill your cocktail.
- Discard the ice from the chilled rocks glass. Using a strainer, pour the contents of the shaker into the glass.
- Garnish with a lemon or orange slice.
Adjust the ratios of lemon juice and simple syrup to suit your personal taste. You can nix the egg white if you like but it does provide a unique finish to your cocktail.
Serve it up!
Your finely crafted Scotch Sour is now ready to be enjoyed! Sip and savor the balanced flavors of smoky Scotch and frothy tart lemon. Cheers!