The New York Sour: A Contemporary Twist On An Old Classic Cocktail
The New York Sour is a modern twist on an old classic cocktail. It takes the traditional sour—a blend of sweet and tart flavors, usually with whiskey or brandy—and adds a splash of red wine to create an extra layer of flavor. The result is a drink that’s not too sweet, but still has plenty of punch.
The origin of this cocktail goes back to the late 19th century in the city of New York. Initially, it was simply known as “the sour,” but over time it gained popularity and eventually earned its name: The New York Sour. This drink quickly became popular among bar-goers and soon spread across America.
Today, the New York Sour remains one of the most popular cocktails around. While there are many variations on how to make it (with some substituting rye whiskey for brandy), all versions include at least one type of spirit, citrus juice, simple syrup or honey syrup, and the signature addition—red wine—that distinguishes this cocktail from other sours.
New York Sour
Ingredients
- - 2 ounces of rye whiskey
- - 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- - 3/4 ounces simple syrup
- - 1/2 ounce red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice and add the rye whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Stir until chilled.
- Strain into an old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes and top off the drink with red wine.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon peel or a maraschino cherry for added flavor!
Glassware
The typical or usual glassware used for a New York Sour is typically an Old Fashioned glass, also known as a rocks glass. This type of tumbler allows the drink to be mixed without spilling and is great for holding its temperature while sipping. Additionally, an Old Fashioned glass gives the cocktail it’s aesthetic appearance with its wide brim allowing garnishes and other ingredients to be added on top.
Flavors
The New York Sour is a contemporary twist on the classic gin sour cocktail. This delicious drink combines rye whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and red wine to create an unforgettable flavor experience. The whisky provides a smoky note of woodiness that pairs perfectly with the tartness of the lemon juice and sweetness of the simple syrup. The red wine adds another layer of complexity to round out this unique blend of flavors.
For those who enjoy a bit more complexity in their drinks, try adding some orange bitters or other fruit liqueurs for additional depth.
A dash of Angostura Bitters will also bring out notes from other ingredients such as clove or cinnamon which can add yet another level of flavor to your drink.
Served over ice in an Old Fashioned glass with a slice of orange or lemon as garnish, you’ll be sure to impress your guests when you serve up this new take on an old classic.
3 tips for Making Your New York Sour
- When selecting a rye whiskey for this recipe, opt for one with a high rye content for the best flavor.
- To make your own simple syrup, combine equal parts of water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and heat until it comes to a boil and all of the sugar has dissolved.
- For an extra sweet twist on the New York Sour, you can use a sweeter red wine such as Zinfandel or Shiraz instead of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot!
