National Whiskey Sour Day Date in the current year: August 25, 2024

Sours are a family of cocktails that contain three key elements: a base distilled beverage, an acidic element (usually some kind of freshly squeezed citrus juice), and a sweetener (typically simple syrup, a sweet liqueur, or a combination of both). Sours are one of the oldest cocktail families; they were described by Jerry Thomas in his pioneering book Bar-Tender’s Guide: How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon Vivant's Companion, published in 1862.

The four most popular types of sours are the gin sour, the rum sour, the pisco sour, and the whiskey sour. The whiskey sour has been known since at least the 1870s. The cocktail is mentioned in an 1870 issue of the Waukesha Plain Dealer, a Wisconsin newspaper. However, the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio de Iquique claims that the whiskey sour was invented by Eliot Stubb, who owned a bar in the then-Peruvian city of Iquique, in 1872.

The whiskey sour is one of the official cocktails of the International Bartender Association; it is listed in the Unforgettables category. According to the official IBA recipe, the whiskey sour consists of 3 parts bourbon whiskey, 2 parts fresh lemon juice, and 1 part simple syrup. A dash of egg white may be included.

The ingredients are shaken with ice and strained into a chilled old fashioned glass that may be filled with ice if the cocktail is supposed to be served on the rocks. The whiskey sour can be served straight up or over ice; it is usually garnished with a maraschino cherry and half an orange slice.

Just like with many other classic drinks, a number of whiskey sour variations have developed over the years. For example, a whiskey sour with a dash of egg white is sometimes referred to as a Boston sour; when scotch is used instead of bourbon, the cocktail may be called a scotch sour. The New York sour contains red dry wine (typically Malbec or Shiraz) in addition to the tree main ingredients; the IBA classifies it is as a distinct cocktail.

The origin of National Whiskey Sour Day is unclear, but don’t let it stop you from celebrating. The best way to celebrate the holiday is, naturally, to indulge in a whiskey sour or two. You can go out to your favorite bar or learn how to make the cocktail yourself – it doesn’t really matter which of the options you choose as long as you get to enjoy this delicious drink. And don’t forget to post about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #NationalWhiskeySourDay to spread the word.

If you love whiskey, you should know that National Whiskey Sour Day isn’t the only whiskey-inspired holiday you can celebrate. International Whiskey Day, alternatively spelled International Whisky Day, is celebrated on March 27; World Whisky Day is observed on the third Saturday of May; International Scotch Day, dedicated specifically to Scotch whisky, is celebrated on February 8; and National Scotch Day occurs on July 27.