Skip advertisement Advertisement

Trader Vic's Sour

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (91)
Trader Vic's Sour image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 fl oz Blended Scotch whisky
1⁄2 fl oz Bourbon whiskey
1⁄2 fl oz Cognac (brandy)
2⁄3 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄3 fl oz Monin Almond (Orgeat) Syrup
1⁄6 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
3 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above.

How to make

Glass

Photographed in an Urban Bar Freddo Old Fashioned

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of dehydrated orange slice wheel.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with dehydrated orange wheel.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Trader Vic's Sour contains 189 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 19.14% alc./vol. (38.29° proof)
  • 19.5 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

  • Orgeat (almond) sugar syrup (2:1) — Nuts

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Inspired by, rather than actually made by Trader Vic. Indeed, you won't find a cocktail named a "Trader Vic's Sour" in any of his numerous books, but 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

Review

Why use a solo base spirit when you can have a threesome? I like to let scotch dominate over the other two participants, as this seems to help the trio sit harmoniously with the citrus and rich almond sugar.

Difford’s Shop logo
$2.06 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 25 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Annechien Premium Member
This works beautifully. Like my fellow commenters I was quite surprised. Excellent sour.
score: 1
Loz Horner
If you are a person who does not love the hassle of egg whites, or has a partner who is peculiar about them, and therefore rarely gets to enjoy the taste of a whisky sour, then this is a treat. Actually I might like it better as the whisky, cognac and bourbon make an excellent throuple.
score: 1
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Do want to revisit this with prescribed ingredients but it's always fun to improvise with what you have on hand. I used JW Black, Old Grand Dad 114, Smith & Cross pot still rum, and lime juice. Excellent!!
score: 1
richard levet
This one surprised me, somehow works perfectly and absolutely delicious.
score: 2
Ian Lockley Premium Member
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
score: 2
Caspian Berggren Premium Member
I honestly don't know how this works, but it does.
score: 2
John Hinojos Premium Member
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.
score: 3
Luca Viviani Premium Member
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.
score: 3
Ian Lockley Premium Member
Agree
score: 2

View 8 comments and discussion

See more...

Difford’s Shop logo
$2.06 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 25 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Pancho Villa (contemporary long version)

Pancho Villa (contemporary long version) Image

Fruity, yet balanced and well-weighted with just enough spirituous bite. Rum acts as a base while gin lightens and lifts.

View more

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio Image

A delicately bittersweet Italian brandy and grappa Boulevardier with amaro liqueur and vermouth amaro.

View more

Bow and Arrow

Bow and Arrow Image

Tropical but far from sweet, led by an interplay between mezcal, pineapple and lime, spiced by cinnamon, with bourbon providing this sour's underlying...

View more

Flyby

Flyby Image

Lavender liqueur replaces crème de violette in this riff on an Aviation.

View more

Bait 'n' Switch

Bait 'n' Switch Image

A Pineapple Mezcal Margarita with chili and cinnamon spice.

View more

Fizz Italiano

Fizz Italiano Image

A superbly refreshing, bittersweet, zesty fizz.

View more