Apple Cider Whiskey Sour

Jump to Recipe

For a fall cocktail that’s full of harvest flavor, shake up my favorite apple cider whiskey sour! A fresh apple simple syrup adds an extra note of seasonal spice, and that velvety, frothy topping instantly elevates your evening festivities.

So raise a glass to fall and savor every sip. Let’s walk through how to shake up this cocktail.

Jump to:

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Step-by-Step Instructions
FAQs
Expert Tips
Perfect Pairing
Looking for More Apple Cider Cocktails?
📖 Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Made for apple lovers: I’m a pumpkin spice fanatic, but I can admit that it gets all the fall glory. With the double dose of apple flavor, this one is for you, apple lovers.
Gives craft cocktail bars from your kitchen: While the frothy topping gives an elegant touch, it doesn’t require special bartending skills or tools
Perfectly balances sweet and tart notes: The apple cider and syrup keep this drink smooth with just the right sweet kick while the fresh lemon juice adds some pop to keep it from tasting cloying. You'll look like a veteran bartender when you serve this apple cider whiskey sour to your friends and family.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

The apple cider whiskey sour ingredients on a brown wooden board with white and black labels by the items.

Whiskey: Specifically, I opted for bourbon because I love those vanilla and caramel notes. Four Roses is great all-purpose bourbon for cocktails, which is what I used. But Maker’s Mark, Elijah Craig, Buffalo Trace and the like are perfect.

Oh, and if you’re not a big whiskey fan, dark rum would make a nice substitute. I bet you could even use vodka, like on my apple cider martini.

Apple cider: I prefer a spiced apple cider for an extra flavor kick. And, yes, I definitely love apple cider over apple juice, which is sweeter and less complex.

Apple spice simple syrup: Of course, you could buy apple syrup, but my homemade apple simple syrup is so much better, and it’s made with real ingredients. Plus, your kitchen will smell divine with all those fall spices simmering on the stove.

Egg white: This is our key ingredient for getting that delightful topping. If you need an egg alternative, try aquafaba, which is the liquid from a can of chickpeas, or cocktail foaming drops.

Bitters: Orange bitters are my go-to here, but spice-forward bitters, like ginger or cardamom could be fun. Your standard angostura bitters work too.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Individual Servings

Step 1: We start by adding the whiskey, apple cider, apple simple syrup, lemon juice, egg white and bitters to a cocktail shaker. At this point, we do not add ice.

Step 2: Now we put on the cocktail shaker top and shake well. This is called the dry shake, and it helps build the topping from the egg white.

Step 3: Now we add ice and shake again. This is the wet shake.

Step 4: For our last step, we remove the cocktail shaker top and strain the drink into our glass. To give it extra fall flair, a thin apple slice makes a pretty addition.

A four-photo collage showing the process of making the apple cider whiskey sour on a board wooden board.

Our apple cider whiskey sour is now ready to enjoy. Sip away!

Batch Servings

With the egg white topping, you can’t completely batch this drink ahead of time, but you can prep most of the base and then mix. Here’s how:

Stir together the apple cider, whiskey, lemon juice and bitters. Don’t add the egg whites.
Pour the mixture into the shaker and add the number of egg whites per serving. I limit it to two at a time.
Shake as originally directed. Easy, huh?

You can find the proportions in the notes section of the recipe card.

A side angle of the apple cider bourbon sour on a wooden serving tray with star anise and fall flowers scattered around it.

FAQs

What’s the best glassware?

My favorite choice is a sour glass because the fluted lips are designed to move that silky topping. If you don’t have a sour glass, a coupe or martini glass works well. You could opt for an old fashioned glass, but I love the other choices for a fancier drinking experience.

Can you make it without the egg white?

While you technically can skip the egg white, you won’t get the frothy topping. As someone who adores the froth, the egg white is a must for me, but you’re welcome to adjust to your preferences.

How long with the leftover apple simple syrup last, and how do you store it?

The syrup should last about two to four weeks. Once completely cooled, pour it in a sterile, airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. That should give it plenty of shelf life.

Expert Tips

Chill your cocktail glass: Place your glass in the freezer for 15-30 minutes before serving, and your glass will have the perfect chill. If you forget, you can fill it with ice and cold water while you mix.
Opt for the proper shaking technique: We want a lot of force behind the shake to build the topping. Use two hands and hold the shaker at an angle.
Note your cocktail shaker material: If you're using a stainless steel cocktail shaker without a rubber strip, it relies on the ice to form a seal. You may want to take care of the dry shake in a mason jar with a solid top. For the wet shake, you can then use your cocktail shaker.

Perfect Pairing

With the sweet apple syrup and apple cider, I especially love this drink with a dessert. As you can imagine, an apple-flavored desert can do no wrong here, so try my apple shortcakes with a maple whipped cream or these apple spice cupcakes, filled with a homemade praline sauce. The maple and praline add an extra richness that's perfect with bourbon.

Make the most of fall with this apple cider whiskey sour. What's better than some fall spice, loads of apple, and the perfect kick of bourbon for some seasonal sipping?

Cheers!