Classic Vodka Sour Recipe
Light and refreshing, the classic Vodka Sour is sweet and sour cocktail with a creamy frothy top.
This Vodka Sour is like the little black dress of cocktails.
Categorized as a sour cocktail, the Vodka Sour is a classic cocktail to know since it can serve as the base to create other beautiful drinks.
The basic Vodka Sour features vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup.
But there are additional ingredients (like egg white and bitters) that are commonly used.
What is a Sour Cocktail?
One of the classic families of cocktails are the Sours.
Sours are essentially cocktails that highlight a main liquor, citrus juice (for sourness), and simple syrup (for sweetness).
Sometimes Sours include other ingredients like different citrus fruits, aromatic bitters, and egg white.
There’s a wide variety of them, from this Vodka Sour to the super aromatic Amaretto Sour, Tequila Sour, Cherry Vodka Sour and Midori Sour.
What Does a Vodka Sour Taste like?
The Vodka Sour is a refreshing sweet and sour drink.
The frothy top adds creaminess while the optional Angostura Bitters bring in flavor depth and intensity.
What Ingredients Do You Need to Make a Vodka Sour?
Vodka
Freshly squeezed lemon juice — Since vodka doesn’t have a very strong flavor, the main flavor comes from fresh lemon juice. So it’s crucial to make it with fresh lemon juice!
Simple syrup — Store-bought or homemade. It’s easy to prep yourself so learn how to make it at home here.
Egg white — Optional but it’s a nice addition for the foam on top. You can purchase some at the store.
Or crack an egg and carefully separate the egg white from the yolk.
Angostura bitters — Optional for an excellent depth of flavor. You can use flavored bitters.
Lemon wheel and cocktail cherry — For garnish.
How to Make a Vodka Sour
1 — In a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes, add in the vodka, lemon juice, egg white (optional) and Angostura bitters (optional).
2 — Shake well for 1 minute or so until chilled.
3 — Strain the mix with a fine mesh strainer into a glass filled with ice.
The foam will float up top, but you can use a bar spoon to collect any foam that does not pour out.
4 — Garnish with the lemon wedge and cherry on a cocktail pick.
Recipe Notes and Tips
The best method to using egg whites in cocktails:
Some experts claim that if you use egg whites, then you should first “dry shake” and mix the ingredients in the cocktail without ice.
This process is said to help improve the texture of the egg white foam by not diluting it with water (ice).
And once you have the perfect froth, you then should add a few ice cubes and shake again to chill the rest of the ingredients.
However, after many trials and making it with and without ice ourselves, we did notice a major difference in terms of texture.
So it’s up to you.
We found that shaking it with ice from the beginning makes everything a bit easier and quicker.
Can you drink raw egg whites?
Yes, you can consume raw egg white. It doesn’t smell or have a distinct taste. It’s mainly used in cocktails for a texture effect.
If you are concerned about consuming raw eggs, you can buy pasteurized egg whites and use 3 tablespoons of that per glass.
How can I make vegan Vodka Sour?
If you are vegan or don’t consume any eggs, you can use some aquafaba to make the froth.
Aquafaba is made with the liquid of cooking legumes like chickpeas or beans. (But don’t worry, it doesn’t taste like beans.)
If you opt to use aquafaba, we recommend making it separately, and then, top the glass later. Two tablespoons of aquafaba is equal to one egg white.
Another possibility is simply omitting the frothy top, which is absolutely non-mandatory.
What if I don’t have Angostura bitters on hand?
The Angostura bitters are only used to add color to the cocktail as well as the depth of flavor.
Do not worry if you don’t have any on hand. You can still make a perfectly delicious cocktail without it.
It is a great bar staple to have at home since it’s used in other delicious cocktails like Bacardi Rum Punch and Coffee Old Fashioned.
Experiment with different flavors:
Play with the flavor profiles by experimenting with flavored vodkas.
You can also use other citrus juices like clementine, lime, or even orange juice.
The main thing to consider is the chosen fruit should have a bit of bitterness to combine with the sweetness of the simple syrup.
Or you can mix the juice with a bit of lemon juice.
More Easy Vodka Cocktail Recipes
Vodka Sour Recipe
Equipment
- Jigger to measure each liquid
- Citrus juicer to make fresh lemon juice
- Cocktail shaker to chill, mix and create the frothy top
- Cocktail strainer
- Fine mesh strainer
- Bar spoon to help lay the frothy top
- Cocktail glass classic Old Fashioned or Whiskey glass
- Cocktail pick for the garnish
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz vodka
- 1.5 oz lemon juice
- 1 oz simple syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters optional
- 3 tsp egg white optional or 1 egg
- 1 lemon wheel for garnish
- 1 cocktail cherry for garnish
Nutrition
Notes
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with a few ice cubes, add in the vodka, lemon juice, egg white (optional) and Angostura bitters (optional).
- Shake well for 1 minute or so until chilled.
- Strain the mix through the cocktail strainer and the fine mesh strainer into a glass filled with ice. The foam will float up top, but you can use a bar spoon to collect any foam that does not pour out.
- Garnish with the lemon wedge and cherry on a cocktail pick.
Don’t forget to share your Vodka Sour with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? You can find them all right here with a few desserts to go along with them.
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