The 12 best Sour Cocktails

We begin with a Sour version that might not be an ultimate classic, but is my favorite: The Continental Sour. The base for this cocktail is a Whiskey Sour made with Bourbon, lemon juice, and rich simple syrup. 

That gets an upgrade of egg white foam and a port wine float. It's an impressive sight and a sensational sip.

The Whiskey Sour dates back to the 19th century and is one of the first documented Sour cocktails. It's whiskey with lemon juice and simple syrup.

If you want inspiration and recommendations regarding the spirit base, check out the Best Whiskey for a Whiskey Sour . 

The New York Sour is another riff on the Whiskey Sour. The drink looks very similar to the Continental Sour but is not quite the same. Instead of the rich port wine, the New York Sour is served with a red wine float. Using a dry red wine here creates a great alternative for everyone who finds port slightly too sweet. 

The Gin Sour has its origin in England, the home of gin. It's a lighter and mellower version of its American forerunner with whiskey. 

 The standard recipe asks for a classic London Dry Gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice. This recipe is also particularly well suited for getting creative with the sweetener.  

The Tequila Sour is a refreshing cross between a classic Sour and a Margarita. It includes tequila blanco, simple syrup, egg white, bitters, and lime instead of the standard lemon juice. 

 You can also go with a Reposado instead of a Blanco for this cocktail. -Only make sure you use 100% agave tequila for the best results.

One more Mexican take on a Sour cocktail but a slightly more complex and smoky version. To sweeten the drink, we use Cynar and add just a bit of agave nectar.

If you're new to mezcal, you might want to opt for a brand that's not too heavy on the smoky flavor. If you need some help with selecting, check out these Mezcal Recommendations.

If you have a sweet tooth, the Amaretto Sour could be the perfect choice for you. It's a twist on the classic Stone Sour made with Apricot Brandy and a really fantastic one. 

 Amaretto is an Italian liqueur made from apricot, peach stones, and almonds. It has a distinctly sweet, almost marzipan-like taste - and because it is relatively low in ABV and sweet, you best use a split base for this Sour Cocktail: Amaretto and a bit of Bourbon.

You do not want to miss out on a good Pisco Sour. I had the best Pisco Sour so far in Chile in a hostel far south in Puerto Natales. -It's also a drink you should order with an egg white. It makes the dots of Angostura bitters on top really shine, and Pisco needs that smooth texture.

Another classic on this list, and it goes back a long way. Most likely, rum is one of the first spirits ever to be regularly combined with lemon or lime and sugar. So, the Rum Sour is a descendant of the Grog, which, today, we know to be one of the most influential Tiki Cocktails.

This one is our favorite festive variation among all Sour cocktails. It gets some beautiful winter vibes through Christmas spiced syrup based on red wine. 

 The Christmas Rum Sour is made with dark rum, lemon juice, syrup, and egg white. Garnished with star anise, a cinnamon stick, and a dehydrated orange, this drink is an absolute winner at every Christmas party.

From winter back to summer! The Midori Sour is based on the famous green-colored Japanese Melon liqueur. It doesn't 100% follow the standard template of a Sour, though. 

It's a mix of Midori, lemon and lime, soda, and a dash of vodka. Considering the use of soda water, some might even argue it's closer to being a member of the Collins cocktail family. Still, it's officially a Sour. And what's more, it's full of flavor, not overly boozy, and tastes a lot like summer. 

The Trinidad Sour is a truly unique representative of the Sour Cocktail family. And something as unusual as this drink certainly deserves a spot on this list. 

 The drink is based on Angostura's Aromatic bitters and requires attention to detail. Otherwise, it can go very wrong and taste awful. But if you stick to the recipe and the exact measurements of Rye, bitters, orgeat, lemon, and egg white, you're up for a surprisingly pleasant experience.