Name: New York Sour
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ice; 2 ounces bourbon whiskey; 1½ ounces sour mix; 1 ounce red wine; 1 orange peel (about 1 inch wide and 2 inches long); 1 maraschino cherry

This New York Sour recipe is perfect for fans of sour cocktails! It’s made with Sour Mix, whiskey, a twist of orange, and a layer of red wine that floats on top!

Close up photo of a New York Sour Cocktail on a blue napkin with a lemon next to it.

A Fun Layered Cocktail

The New York Sour Cocktail is as beautiful as it is delicious! A cross between a Whiskey Sour and a glass of red wine, this unexpected mixed drink offers the best of both worlds.

If you’re really feeling adventurous, you can even add an egg white! This makes it frothy and, dare I say, extra fancy? (See Rebecca’s Tips below for how-to instructions.)

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Rebecca’s Recipe Review

Taste: Sour with a hint of fruity sweetness.

Texture: Smooth.

Ease: 2/10

Pros: A vibrant, layered drink that’s ready in 5 minutes or less.

Cons: None.

Would I Make This Again? Yes!

New York Sour Ingredients

Whiskey – You can use either rye or bourbon whiskey, but not Irish whiskey.
Sour mix – My homemade Sour Mix is perfect for this!
Red wine – Fruity red wine works best – use your favorite!
Orange peel – To twist over the drink for a hint of orange flavor.
Maraschino cherry – For garnish.
Ice – First, fill the shaker with ice, then you’ll need fresh ice to serve your drinks.

How To Make A New York Sour

Grab a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice, then pour in the bourbon whiskey.
Add the Sour Mix to the shaker.
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
Pour red wine over the back of a spoon into the glass to create that pretty layer effect.

Rebecca’s Tips

To make this with an egg white, first, add all the ingredients, including the egg white, into a shaker WITHOUT ice (known as a “dry shake.”) Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Then, fill halfway with ice and shake until chilled.
If you don’t have sour mix, combine 1 ounce of simple syrup with 1/2 an ounce of fresh lime juice and 1/2 and ounce of fresh lemon juice.
Rye whiskey may also be used for this recipe, but not Irish whiskey.

Why is it called a New York Sour?

Although it’s thought to have originated in Chicago in the 1880s, it went through several name changes. “New York Sour” eventually stuck, thanks to the popularity it gained from a Manhattan bartender.

How does the red wine float?

1. Since the base of this drink contains sugar, it’s denser, so the red wine floats on top. (Therefore, sugar is an essential ingredient in this drink.)
2. It also involves a little technique. With a spoon held above the glass, gently pour the wine so it doesn’t mix with the liquid below.

Close up photo of a New York Sour drink.

More Delicious Cocktail Recipes To Sip On!

Clover Club – With flavors of raspberry and lemon, this gin drink is also made with an egg white!
Strawberry Margarita – Bursting with strawberry flavor from homemade Strawberry Simple Syrup!
Painkiller Cocktail – Pineapple juice, orange juice, cream of coconut, and aged rum!
RumChata Malibu Lime and Soda (TikTok Drink Recipe) – Sweet, refreshing, and 4-ingredients!
Apple Crumble – The best flavors of fall, all in one boozy glass!

Did You Make This Recipe?

If you’ve tried this recipe, please let leave a review in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos, or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there.

5 from 4 votes

New York Sour

Author Rebecca Hubbell

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

This New York Sour recipe is perfect for fans of sour cocktails! It’s made with Sour Mix, whiskey, a twist of orange, and a layer of red wine that floats on top!

Ingredients

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice, add the bourbon and sour mix. Cover and shake vigourously for 10 seconds.
Strain into an old fashioned glass filled 1/2 way with ice.
Pour red wine over the back of a spoon to create a layer on the top of the drink.
Take the orange peel and twist it over the top of the drink so that the mist from the peel goes over the drink.
Garnish with the orange peel and cherry.

Notes

If you don’t have sour mix on hand for this recipe you can use 1 ounce of simple syrup and a tablespoon of each fresh lime juice and fresh lemon juice. The sugar cannot be omitted since it has a higher density and it’s what helps support the red wine floater. I highly recommend making my homemade sour mix.
Rye whiskey may also be used for this recipe, but not Irish whiskey.
Eggwhite Addition: Add all the ingredients, including the egg white, into a shaker WITHOUT ice (known as a “dry shake.”) Shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Then, fill halfway with ice and shake until chilled.