There’s a simple structure behind all sours, from margaritas to mojitos. We tapped Audrey Saunders of NYC’s Pegu Club to come up with these ten classics, but consider this just your starting point. Once you memorize the (super-simple) formula, you can use it to mix up any combo of sour, sweet, and liquor you like.
Memorize This Basic Sour Formula:
Shake It Right
- Combine base liquor, sour, and sweet in a cocktail shaker.
2. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.
3. Strain through a Hawthorne strainer or sieve.
Now, Pick Your Poison:
Tequila + fresh lime juice + simple syrup + kosher salt (rim) and 1/2 lime wheel = Margarita
Tequila + fresh lime juice + simple syrup + Campari + fresh grapefruit juice + lime wheel = Siesta
Rum + fresh lime juice + simple syrup + lime twist = Daiquiri
Rum + fresh lime juice + simple syrup (with 2 mint sprigs) + club soda + mint sprig = Mojito
Gin + fresh lemon juice + maraschino liqueur + maraschino cherry = Aviation
Gin + fresh lemon juice + simple syrup + 2 oz. Champagne + long spiral lemon twist = French 75
Vodka + fresh lime juice + triple sec + 1 oz. cranberry juice cocktail + orange twist = Cosmopolitan
Vodka + fresh lime juice + triple sec = Kamikaze
Whiskey + fresh lemon juice + honey = Gold Rush
Whiskey + fresh lemon juice + simple syrup + 1/2 orange wheel and maraschino cherry = Whiskey Sour
You'll need some snacks to go with that booze:
