A Blood Orange Whiskey Sour is an easy twist on a classic that creates a beautiful color and a delicious cocktail. Fresh blood orange juice makes the prettiest pink cocktail and the egg white foam creates the perfect contrast.
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Why I Love This Recipe
This Blood Orange Whiskey Sour cocktail recipe is just a simple change to the classic like my Blood Orange Pisco Sour, my Blood Orange Gin Cocktail and my Blood Orange Margarita. I love this recipe because it is the perfect balance of sweet and sour but still allows the whiskey to shine.
I also love this recipe because of the egg white, which is optional, that creates a creamy texture taking this craft cocktail to the next level. This is also the perfect cocktail to help you learn new bartending skills at home.
How to Make a Blood Orange Whiskey Sour
- Prepare a lowball glass with a cube of ice or ice cubes. Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker WITHOUT ice and dry shake for 30 seconds.
- Add ice to the shaker and then shake again for another 30 seconds or so until everything is nice and cold. Strain through the fine-mesh strainer into the prepared glass. Garnish if desired and enjoy!
When and How to Dry Shake a Cocktail
The reason you dry shake a cocktail is to foam up the egg white and to get all of the ingredients meshed together. A dry shake is just shaking your cocktail ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice for at least 10 seconds, longer if you can.
Your arms will be screaming but your cocktail will thank you. After you dry shake, add ice to the cocktail shaker, and wet shake for another 30 seconds or more.
Do You Have To Add an Egg White?
You definitely don't have to add an egg white to this cocktail. Although some whiskey sour recipes do not have egg white, a traditional whiskey sour does. I personally like the foam it creates and it makes this cocktail so pretty.
Not everyone is comfortable adding egg white to their drink, and that's OK! See my notes in the recipe card on the USDA comments on egg whites in the recipe.
How to Make Simple Syrup
To make simple syrup, just add one cup of sugar and one cup of water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil so that all of the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool before using. Store in a sealable container in the fridge and it should last for several weeks.
You could also try this cocktail with my Rich Demerara Syrup for even more depth of flavor!
How to Garnish a Blood Orange Whiskey Sour
The dehydrated oranges in my photos are easy to make in the dehydrator or oven. My post will walk you through the entire process. You can also use a blood orange or lemon wedge on the side of the glass. A lemon peel twist would also be very elegant.
More Cocktail Recipes to Check Out
If you get a chance to make these Blood Orange Whiskey Sour, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes right in your inbox.
Blood Orange Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon/whiskey
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1 egg white*
Instructions
- Prepare a lowball glass with a cube of ice or ice cubes. Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice and dry shake for 8-10 seconds.
- Add ice to the shaker and then shake again for another 8-10 seconds or so until everything is nice and cold. Strain through the fine-mesh strainer into the prepared glass. Garnish if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- *The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers it safe to use raw eggs if they are pasteurized. Bottom Line: Raw eggs may contain a type of pathogenic bacteria called Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning. However, the risk of an egg being contaminated is quite low. Please proceed at your own risk and decide if you are ok with this. I have never had an issue.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Chef Dennis says
I love the color of this! This looks insanely good.
Emily says
The color is pretty awesome, gotta love what a blood orange can do!
Addison says
So refreshing and delicious!
Emily says
My thoughts exactly, cheers!
Kristina says
Yum!
Julia says
Yum! Blood oranges are in season now so it's the perfect time to make this.
Emily says
Perfect timing I’d say 😉
Jamie says
What a gorgeous color to this drink! Beautiful!
Emily says
Thank you!! Blood oranges make the best color.
Courtney says
The blood orange in here takes this drink to the next level. Yum!
Emily says
I totally agree, enjoy!
Laura says
The blood oranges in this recipe are outstanding!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain says
I recently made rosemary simple syrup! Would this go well with the whiskey? I totally want to try this as rosemary and orange go so well!
Emily says
Yes, I think this could be a wonderful combination. Let me know how it turns out, it sounds delicious!
Chris says
One of my favourite cocktails taken to new heights with the blood orange! Such a vibrant mix of flavours 🙂
Emily says
I totally agree, Chris, thanks.
Andréa Janssen says
Yummie! Great recipe. I'm going to prepare it soon!
Emily says
You are going to love it, Andrea!
Julie Menghini says
I love blood orange in cocktails. This one is no exception. It sounds delicious!
Emily says
For some reason, I just started using blood oranges in my cocktails and I am never going back! LOL
Angela says
Beautiful cocktail! Classic whiskey sour kicked up with blood orange.
Emily says
I'm convinced blood orange will make anything better...LOL😂
Toni says
I love it!! Such a perfect blend of flavors!
Emily says
Thanks, Toni! The blood orange and whiskey really do go together quite nicely 😁.