Name: Trader Vic's Sour
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Scotch whisky; 15 ml Bourbon whiskey; 15 ml Cognac (brandy); 20 ml Lemon juice; 10 ml Orgeat syrup; 5 ml Sugar syrup (2:1); 3 drop Saline solution 4:1

Trader Vic's Sour
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Photographed in an Urban Bar Freddo Old Fashioned

Ingredients:
1 oz	Blended Scotch whisky
¹⁄₂ oz	Bourbon whiskey
¹⁄₂ oz	Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. cognac
²⁄₃ oz	Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
¹⁄₃ oz	Monin Almond (Orgeat) Syrup
¹⁄₆ oz	Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)
3 drop	Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
Prepare garnish of dehydrated orange slice wheel.
SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
Garnish with dehydrated orange wheel.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Orgeat (almond) sugar syrup (2:1) - Nuts

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

Most sour renditions are strictly solo spirit-based, but why be so constricting when you can have a threesome? I like to let scotch have its way over the other two participants as this seems to help the trio sit harmoniously with the citrus and rich almond sugar. There's no need for block ice or other niceties – it's not that kind of trio.

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History:

Inspired by rather than actually made by Trader Vic. Indeed, this recipe is by Although you won't find a cocktail named a "Trader Vic's Sour" in any of his numerous books, he did like a sour with orgeat (e.g. his London Sour), and the proportions are in keeping with the essence of his numerous sour recipes.

SOURS
A Sour can be the most disappointing drink in the world if it is not made with fresh lemon juice. And just because it is Sour doesn't mean it should be all lemon juice. Give your customer a break – not heartburn.
Victor Bergeron, 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide

More cocktails by Simon Difford

Nutrition:

One serving of Trader Vic's Sour contains 189 calories

Alcohol content:

1.3 standard drinks
19.14% alc./vol. (19.14° proof)
18.2 grams of pure alcohol

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Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 4 comments for Trader Vic's Sour.
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Ian Lockley

26th April at 16:20

This is absolutely fabulous. The little bit of Orgeat and simple syrup softens the strong liquors and makes this one of the most beautifully balanced and flavourful sours I’ve had. Wonderful

Caspian Berggren

24th November 2024 at 21:23

I honestly don't know how this works, but it does.

John Hinojos

23rd April 2023 at 03:05

This cocktail surprised me. I am used to Trader Vic's cocktails being a bit on the sweet side (even if they are called sour). This was perfectly balanced. Nice hint of sour and the hints of whisky is wonderful. Perfect for after dinner or during a quiet, relaxing evening.

Luca Viviani

5th February 2023 at 22:37

This is such an amazing cocktail. I was surprised by how Scotch shines with the help of the other distillates. Orgeat mingles with the other ingredients to the point of not being immediately recognizable. This is bound to be my sour of choice from now on.

Ian Lockley

26th April at 16:20

Agree

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