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What Is a New York Sour Cocktail?
The New York Sour (aka Continental Sour or Southern Whiskey Sour) is a Whiskey Sour with the addition of a fruity red wine float.
The New York Sour has five basic ingredients:
- Whiskey: Both rye whiskey and bourbon are acceptable.
- Simple syrup: The easiest way to sweeten a cocktail. Use sugar if you don’t have simple syrup on hand. Learn how to make simple syrup in our guide here.
- Fresh lemon juice: Freshly squeezed citrus is always better than sour mix. Some bartenders like to add a little orange juice as well.
- Red wine: Try a fruit-forward, dry red wine, such as malbec or shiraz. To make the float of red wine, you'll want to carefully pour the wine over the back of a bar spoon, close to the surface of the cocktail.
- Egg white: The egg white is an optional ingredient that gives sours a velvety texture.

Classic New York Sour Recipe
Makes
1 cocktailPrep Time
5 minTotal Time
5 minIngredients
- 2 ounces whiskey
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg white (optional)
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- ½ ounce dry red wine, like malbec or shiraz
- In a cocktail shaker, combine whiskey, lemon juice, egg white, and simple syrup with ice. Shake until the egg white emulsifies and becomes frothy, about 30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Slowly pour red wine over the back of a spoon so that it floats on the surface of the drink.
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