The Whiskey Sour. A true cocktail classic that, like all the best drinks, can be made totally your own.
Whether you prefer yours with egg white, neat, or garnished with a cherry, changing up your base is the best way to mix it up with the Whiskey Sour.
With most top-shelf whiskeys being made to drink neat, there’s no need to break the bank to find your perfect choice.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the 11 best whiskeys for a whiskey sour!
Best Whiskey For Whiskey Sour In 2023
Our pick for the best whiskey for a whiskey sour is the Elijah Craig Small Batch.
Price: ~$30
Proof: 94
Elijah Craig is a classy choice with a balanced palette, making it perfect for a sour. Hailing from the heartland of Kentucky, this is also our pick for the best bourbon for a whiskey sour.
The sweet, honey finish of Elijah Craig Small Batch balances out the sourness of the lemon in the cocktail to give a smooth, pleasing texture that any whiskey drinker would love.
The lingering nutmeg and charred oak finish leave you with that familiar, warm, fuzzy feeling that you just can’t get from any other type of spirit. A true all-rounder, the Elijah Craig Small Batch is the best whiskey for a whiskey sour if you’re after that classic taste.
The Rest of the Best Whiskeys For a Whiskey Sour
1. Four Roses Bourbon (Yellow Label)
Price: ~$20
Proof: 80
If you’re after that classic whiskey sour taste, but on a bit of a budget, you can’t get much better than a bottle of Four Roses Bourbon.
More affordable than Elijah Craig Small Batch, but certainly not tasting cheaper, the Four Roses is a great choice of bourbon for a whiskey sour, with its hints of Seville Orange Marmalade and lemon zest to perfectly compliment the citrus nature of the whiskey sour.
The spiced, oak finish will give your cocktail a little bit of a kick, but nothing too harsh, making this a perfect beginner choice for a timeless drink.
2. Jura 10-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch
Price: ~$40
Proof: 80
Scotch purists are going to hate this one but hey, it’s your cocktail and no one can stop you experimenting.
If you’ve not delved into the world of Scottish whisky before, this is your perfect opportunity.
The cold, harsh sea air which slowly replaces the angel’s share of the barrel as it ages simply cannot be replicated by the warm, dusty climates of the American midwest.
As such, this whisky will give your whiskey sour a totally different flavor and bite to what you’re used to, and that isn’t a bad thing. Don’t worry though, even if it is aged on the remote Scottish Island of Jura, it’s still done in used American bourbon casks, so the taste won’t be totally alien.
The cardamom and cinnamon palette of this whisky combine beautifully with the lemon and frothy egg white of the sour to hit your mouth with an exotic blend of flavors, giving you something slightly different from your standard, expected cocktail.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, and see firsthand why the Jura 10-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch is one of the best whiskeys for a whiskey sour.
3. Eagle Rare Bourbon
Price: ~$60 (fluctuates due to allocation)
Proof: 90
Another Kentucky Classic, Eagle Rare is one of the best bourbons for a whiskey sour. Channel that quintessential American, Midwest feel with Eagle Rare’s honey and caramel character perfectly suited to the citrusy whiskey sour.
Not too strong, overpowering your drink isn’t a risk with Eagle Rare. Ever the reliable option, we’re dealing with a smooth, solid, consistent bourbon that promises to deliver every time.
The main issue with Eagle Rare is that it’s highly-sought-after. It’s difficult to find and often sells for closer to $100 because it’s one of Buffalo Trace’s allocated bourbons.
4. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey
Price: ~$25
Proof: 70
A left-field choice but stick with me here. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey is one of the best whiskeys for a whiskey sour you can imagine.
The citrus punch of the fresh lemon juice is going to be mellowed by the sweetness of this whiskey, opening up an entirely new array of flavors.
Even if you love the traditional whiskey sour, you’ve got to give this one a try. It’s like teaching an old dog new tricks, a totally different way to have your whiskey sour.
Put the skepticism on hold and open up a bottle of Tennessee Honey to sweeten the deal the next time you’re having a whiskey sour.
5. Traverse City Cherry
Price: ~$35
Proof: 70
Maybe you do want a different flavor to your drink, but Tennessee Honey is just a step too far? In that case, Traverse City Cherry is your go-to bourbon for a whiskey sour.
Bringing hints of the traditional garnish into the whiskey itself, Traverse City Cherry Bourbon puts a more contemporary spin on this midwest classic, pushing you out of your comfort zone just enough to give this drink a slightly different feel to the same old same old.
Even if you’re the staunchest of purists about your whiskey sour, give the Traverse City Cherry a try and you might just be pleasantly surprised.
6. Jim Beam
Price: ~$20
Proof: 80
Look, we know this selection isn’t going to blow anyone’s socks off but don’t be writing off the good ol’ Jim Beam just yet. It’s the Chevy Impala of whiskeys for a reason.
Firstly, it’s one you’re likely to have around the house, making it an excellent starter whiskey for a whiskey sour. This is one for the person who doesn’t want to spend on a top-shelf bottle, only to find out whiskey sours aren’t really their thing, or that expensive bourbon just isn’t to their taste.
We’ve all had Jim Beam, we all know what we’re getting and hey, it’s popular for a reason. We’ll be the first to admit this isn’t going to be your first choice if you’re at a high-end whiskey lounge listening to a live blues band, but if you’re making your first whiskey sours at home, either for yourself or maybe you have some friends round for a barbeque, this really is a great option.
7. Rittenhouse Bottled In Bond Straight Rye
Price: ~$30
Proof: 100
This list has been heavily bourbon-focused, and that’s because bourbons tend to make some of the best sours. But we’d be doing a disservice if we didn’t include our pick for the best rye whiskey for a whiskey sour.
The rye note is dominant throughout this whiskey, giving your whiskey sour cocktail a different flavor to anything else on this list, but the honey and cinnamon in the Rittenhouse contrast the lemon in the cocktail perfectly, while the orange flavors complement it.
A strong choice at 100 proof, Rittenhouse is such a good whiskey for a whiskey sour, as the froth of the egg white and lemon zest can take off what could otherwise be an overpowering edge, without diluting it to the point of giving a dull flavor.
8. Woodford Reserve
Price: ~$35
Proof: 90.4
Smooth, rich, sweet. Woodford Reserve is one of the more elegant whiskeys on this list.
You’ll struggle to produce a bad whiskey sour with this bourbon, its thick and creamy body gives the cocktail a good weight and punch, without being overpoweringly sharp.
With underlying hints of winter spice and cocoa, this is a good whiskey for a whiskey sour, as it’ll lull you into that calming, relaxed state that’s so closely associated with whiskey based drinks.
Woodford Reserve is definitely a more mature, refined choice than some of the others on this list, and really encapsulates the classy, gentlemanly image that is so often associated with whiskey and the whiskey sour.
9. Treaty Oak Ghost Hill
Price: ~$50
Proof: 100
Texas corn and Texas wheat mashed together to make a true Texas Bourbon. A departure from most of the bourbons on this list (with them hailing from Kentucky), Treaty Oak Ghost Hill is woody and smokey.
It smells, tastes, and finishes like warm home comforts. If your taste in whiskey sours is a little more delicate, maybe this isn’t going to be your first choice (although by all means do still give it a go), but if you like your whiskey rugged and rough round the edges, you can’t let this one pass you by.
It’s not just all campfire cooking with Ghost Hill though, hints of banana and vanilla are laced throughout the whiskey, and this will balance perfectly with the bite and zest of the lemon in your whiskey sour.
If you’ve done your whiskey sour with a classic Kentucky bourbon a hundred times over, but you don’t want to go as far out as a honey or cherry base, give Treaty Oak Ghost Hill a try, you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised.
10. Russell’s 10-Year Reserve
Price: ~$40
Proof: 90
This 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon packs a punch.
There’s no getting around that this is one of the dearer whiskeys on our list, but it’s worth every penny. Tobacco and seasoned oak are balanced out by notes of caramel and vanilla in what is the absolute standard for a bourbon.
What the Russell 10 delivers is what every other bourbon aspires to be. If you’re a whiskey aficionado, then this might actually be the best whiskey for a whiskey sour, and certainly the best bourbon.
The price tag here is the only thing stopping it from stealing the top spot from the Elijah Craig Small Batch but, if you’re able and willing to make the investment, this is your pick.
FAQs
1. What kind of whiskey is best for whiskey sour?
There is no definitive answer, as different whiskeys will produce different results. However, some of the best whiskeys for a whiskey sour include bourbon, rye, and scotch. We recommend Bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey.
2. Is bourbon or rye better for whiskey sours?
Again, there is no definitive answer. Both bourbon and rye will produce a good whiskey sour, but it really depends on your personal preference. Rye will add a touch of spice to your whiskey sour, while bourbon will add sweeter notes.
These Are the Best Bourbons for a Whiskey Sour (+ Scotch and Rye)
So there we have it, the best whiskeys for a whiskey sour. Real classics with which you can’t go wrong, and some leftfield options to give your whiskey sour a new lease of life.
If you’re on a budget, go for the Four Roses.
If you’re willing to splash out, pick up a Russell 10, and if you want a happy medium, Elijah Craig Small Batch is the best all-around whiskey for a whiskey sour.
But don’t be scared to push the boat out with some cherry or even honey-flavored whiskey to give your cocktail a totally new feel.
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.