Scotch Sour
The Scotch Sour is a bar standard outside the IBA list: 6 ingredients, shaken and served in a rocks glass. That makes 161 ml in the glass: a middling measure.
MethodShaken
GlassRocks glass
In the glass161 ml
Strength15.3%
Ingredients
- 60 mlscotch whisky
- 30 mlfresh lemon juice
- 20 mlrich sugar syrup
- 15 mlegg white
- 1.2 mlAngostura Bitters
- 0.4 mlsalt
Method
- Dry shake all ingredients without ice to whip the egg white.
- Add ice, shake again and fine strain into an old-fashioned glass.
Garnish: Garnish with lemon and orange zest twists.
What it tastes like
- bitter → sweet
- It sits between bitter and sweet: 0.7 out of 10 of bitterness, 110th of 186 for sweetness.
- round → sour
- Acidity leaves it halfway: 78th of 186, and the acid comes from fresh lemon juice.
- light → strong
- 15.3% after dilution: the middle band, 80th of 186.
Among the five around it on the map it is the only one built on whisky.
Five that come close
- Champagne CocktailBuilt on vino and with champagne in place of scotch whisky.
- East 8 Hold-upBuilt on vodka and with vodka in place of scotch whisky.
- Pisco PunchSweeter and built on pisco.
- French 75Built on vino and with champagne in place of scotch whisky.
- Jungle BirdBuilt on rum and with dark rum in place of scotch whisky.
Every drink near the Scotch Sour on the map
Recipe source: Difford's Guide · checked on 3 November 2026