The 3-2-1 Ratio For Perfectly Balanced Whiskey Sours:-A whisky sour contains whisky (usually bourbon or rye), fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. To prevent scurvy, British Navy sailors spiked their spirits with citrus juice from their ship’s fruit in the 18th century.
After sailors arrived on shore, they developed a liking for the sour, and adding sugar became it a pub staple. Since the craft cocktail movement of the past few decades resurrected traditional cocktail recipes and replaced pre-made sour mixes with fresh ingredients, whisky sours have become a classic again.
The 3-2-1 Ratio For Perfectly Balanced Whiskey Sours
How to apply the 3-2-1 ratio for a balanced cocktail
Most of the time, bourbon is the best whisky for a sour, but each brand will add different notes to the flavor, so you might want to try a few different ones. The owner of the liquor store near you might know of a good place.
However, you probably shouldn’t buy the cheapest bottle of bourbon. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive either.
For “2 parts sour,” you should always use lemon juice that has just been squeezed. Don’t buy concentrated lemon juice in a bottle or, even worse, sour mix that has already been made. For the “1 part sweet,” an easy syrup made from sugar and water will do.
In a pot, warm the water and add the sugar. Stir the sugar into the water slowly for five minutes, but do not let the water boil. Take the pan off the heat and let the food cool down. You can keep any extra syrup in the fridge for up to a month.
Put everything into a drink shaker, but don’t add ice. Then, shake it to make a whisky sour. After that, put some ice cubes in the shaker and shake it again. Pour the drink through a strainer into a nice glass. Add a cocktail cherry and a slice of orange to the top.
The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked :
1 . Evan Williams
Bourbon experts love our perennial favorite cheap bourbon because it offers a great value for the money. However, it runs one risk before it rings up: not being recognized for how good its better expressions are.
It’s easy to grab a cheap handle and pour happily. You have to keep reminding yourself that the older and more limited brands can compete with similar-level bourbons, even without Evan’s great price.
The money saved is just a plus… for now, anyway, since word is getting around that sticker prices are going up quickly. It’s still a good deal for one of the best bourbons under $50, even if it’s a batch from a single barrel.
2 . Benchmark
Benchmark officially lives here, but unofficially, we’re not sure how high to put it because we’re basing our decision on how people feel about it, not because we don’t want to repeat Evan Williams’ price creep. Still, this Buffalo Trace bottom-shelfer has been moving up the ranks lately, with a growing and more aged line. BT sources told us it was their favourite underrated bourbon.
More and more writers are stopping to say, “Wait, Benchmark might actually become… a benchmark?” This growth has paid off. It hasn’t changed the game yet, but a lot of lineup reviews make you wonder if this isn’t being sadly ignored. Yes, but don’t listen to us if you want to keep the price low.
3 . New Riff
Maybe the people at New Riff would keep coming back to do what this family-owned company does best: change the whisky scene if everyone got a basic income tomorrow. It could be because the brand is made up of people who say they’re “corporate refugees.”
It may be because the people who make New Riff are so passionate about bourbon that they want you to understand and enjoy it.
It could be because a bourbon that hasn’t even been around for 10 years is getting so much attention in the world of Kentucky whisky. It could also be because it’s really tasty liquor. You get the point.
4 . 1792
Have you had this? Along the lines of creme brulee and caramel, it gets really sweet without getting too much. This makes it great with just seltzer because it has a lot of the same effects as juice and soda in a cocktail or drink.
But mixing it at all seems like taking away from what is already a great bourbon to drink straight up or with a drop of water.
Lucky for us, we were able to rank the entire 1792 range in 2022 (except for a few very rare bottles that you’ll never see). The 1792 Bottled-in-Bond was our favourite, but most drinkers would probably choose the Aged Twelve Years. It’s fun to make your own choice.
5 . Old Forester
Old Forester is another “American whisky” brand. It has been around longer than any other whisky company, makes a wide range of bourbons and whiskies, and has a well-known single-barrel programe for people who want to go all-in on a really great bottle.
When it comes to ABV, Old Forester isn’t very strong. The original is a light 86 proof, while most of the other well-known bourbons in the line are 100 proof or lower.
We think that this is about the right level of proof. While some higher 105s and mid-110s show up, the barrel-proof, single-barrel bottle drops in like an atom bomb at 130 is a bit of a surprise. Old Forester, did you just tell us “She’s All That”?
