The Mystery of the New York Sour
Simple but impressive. That’s what a New York Sour is.
It’s the perfect cocktail to look cool on a date night or at a party as this red-topped twist on a Whisky Sour looks good and tastes great.
Versions of the Whisky Sour date back to the mid-1800's. It first appeared in the 1862 edition of the famed “Jerry Thomas Bartenders Guide”. The New York Sour is believed to have been created later in the 18th century; in Chicago of all places. The temptation to suggest that the best things about New York were usually started in Chicago but I don’t want to start a fight.
It didn’t leave the Windy City with that name however. According to Simon Difford, it was initially called the Continental Sour followed by Southern Whiskey Sour, Brunswick Sour and a Claret Snap before settling down by the Hudson as the New York Sour. In truth, we’ll never know who first came up with it, but it’s place in the sour-drink stable is well earned.
It spent a long time being treated as the unsuccessful younger sibling of the whisky sour but in recent years has garnered greater appreciation, and rightly so. Sweet-sour whisky or bourbon taste tempered with a rich-red-wine-lid is a great after dinner cocktail.
How to make, a New York Sour
Ingredients
50ml Rye Whiskey or Bourbon (If you don’t really like whisky cocktails like an Old Fashioned go with bourbon.
25ml Lemon Juice (squeezed fresh)
75ml Simple Syrup (Scroll down for how to make some it’s very easy)
1 Egg White (optional and not needed for flavor)
1 Large Shot of Red Wine (for pouring you may not use all of it.
How To Mix
In your ice-filled shaker add the spirit, lemon, syrup and (optional) egg white and shake until chilled.
Then strain over ice into a Delmonico glass, or glass of your choice.
To create the layer of red wine, pour your room temperature red over the back of a spoon and into the glass until you have a good layer. Pour slowly so as not to inadvertently mix the wine.
What is simple syrup and how to make it
Simple syrup is just sugar water. It’s stupidly simple to make and handy to have in your cocktail cupboard. Here’s how to make it.
Ingredients
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
Method
Put the sugar and water in a pan and place over a medium heat.
Mix until dissolved
Do not let the mixture start to boil.
Pour into a container and leave to cool.
