Wednesday, August 25, is international Whiskey Sour Day – a day to celebrate a classic cocktail that is a favourite amongst whiskey-lovers worldwide. The Whiskey Sour, officially dating back to 1862 when American bartender Jerry Thomas first published his recipe, originated with sailors adding lemon to their whiskey to combat scurvy on the high seas, and then further diluting the drink with sugar and water for taste. These are the classic flavours of the whiskey sour.
To celebrate the quality and versatility of American spirits, “Cheers! Spirits from the USA”, a campaign that celebrates and educates adult consumers on U.S. spirits, have collated some recipes utilizing a range of delicious American whiskeys that are simple to make at home. “Cheers! Spirits from the USA” campaign in July 2021 was kicked off by Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) in Australia to raise awareness and knowledge of the heritage, flavour profiles, and quality of U.S. distilled spirits. The campaign, supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will highlight the versatility and uniqueness of U.S. spirits products, and heighten their local visibility, through a range of trade and consumer events, industry collaborations, media relations and social media activations executed over the coming months.
Charles McEntee, Director of Export Promotion for DISCUS said that a key element of the program will be connecting craft brands that aren’t currently available in Australia, as well as brands looking to further grow their presence via importers, distributors and retailers, while also celebrating internationally recognized American spirits brands.
“We are really excited to launch this campaign. Australia has been a high growth market for many U.S. spirit brands currently in the market, and it also presents excellent opportunities for the rest of our members.” McEntee commented “Australians are naturally curious consumers, so we are looking forward to sharing U.S. trends and introducing a range of new craft American spirits, as well as highlighting the quality and taste of much-loved favourites.”
Now for those of you who might be looking to shake things up on this special day and try some modern twists on the original whiskey sour recipe here are a couple of suggestions.
- Bulleit Bourbon Lemonade
Light, long and refreshing: the Bulleit Bourbon Lemonade is a tangy and sweet combination that highlights the spicy notes of their high-rye bourbon.
Ingredients: 40ml Bulleit Bourbon, 120ml lemonade, and 1 slice lemon.
Preparation: Serve on the rocks or blend with ice, in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon slice.
- The Frisco Sour- Featuring James E. Pepper Bourbon
A Frisco Sour is a variation on the classic Frisco Cocktail. The simple combination of bourbon, grenadine and citrus results in a complex sour flavour.
Ingredients: 30ml James E. Pepper Bourbon, 10ml lemon juice, 10ml lime juice, 10ml grenadine, and 90ml soda water.
Preparation: Add ingredients to mixing glass. Stir ingredients together until mixed. Pour into ice old glass.