On August 25th, people across the United States observe National Whiskey Sour Day.
#NationalWhiskeySourDay
Traditionally garnished with half an orange wheel and a maraschino cherry, a whiskey sour is a mixed drink containing whiskey (often bourbon), lemon juice, and sugar. Whiskey sours are shaken then either served straight or over ice.
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” – Mark Twain
Alternatives to the traditional whiskey sour are the Boston sour and the Ward 8. The Boston sour adds a dash of egg white to the recipe. The Ward 8 uses either a Bourbon or rye whiskey base with both lemon and orange juices and grenadine syrup added for sweetness.
The first mention of a whiskey sour was in an 1870 Wisconsin newspaper.
- After opening, a bottle of whiskey will remain good for five years.
- An unopened bottle of whiskey can be kept for over 100 years and will still be fit to drink.
- Both “Whisky” and “Whiskey” spellings are correct. Whisky is specific to Scotch Whisky, and Whiskey is Irish.
- In 2004, Alabama named Conecuh Ridge Whiskey as its official state spirit.
- According to legend, Jack Daniels ran away at the age of 6 and learned to make whiskey from a Lutheran minister.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WHISKEY SOUR DAY
Celebrate by enjoying a whiskey sour! Invite a friend to join you. Don’t hesitate to try a twist on the whiskey sour. While you enjoy your cocktail, explore the history of whiskey, its production, and trade. We recommend:
- The documentaries Straight Up and Scotch: The Golden Dram
- Whiskey Master Class by Lew Bryson
- Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch and Irish Whiskey by Fred Minnick
- Dead Distillers by Colin Spoelman and David Haskell
(Remember always to drink responsibly and never drink and drive.) Use #NationalWhiskeySourDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL WHISKEY SOUR DAY HISTORY
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator or the origin of this popular National Day.
Whiskey FAQ
Q. What kind of glass do you use to serve a whiskey sour?
A. A whiskey sour can be served in a rocks glass, highball, a stemmed glass.Q. Can I make a sour from other spirits?
A. Yes. Vodka, gin, rum, tequila, pisco, and brandy are all used to make sour cocktails.Q. What’s in a tequila sour?
A. Tequila, lemon and lime juice, simple syrup, bitters, and egg white (optional). Did you know, the margarita and Paloma also fall into the sour cocktails category?