Brandy Sour recipe
A timeless citrus-forward classic balancing rich brandy, fresh lemon juice, and aromatic bitters.
Method: Shake and fine strain ·
Glass: Chilled rocks glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Cognac or Brandy (VSOP or high-quality grape brandy)
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice (Freshly squeezed)
- 0.5 oz Rich simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water ratio)
- 0.5 oz Egg white (Optional for traditional silken texture)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters (Added to the tin or floated on top)
How to make a Brandy Sour
- Combine the cognac, fresh lemon juice, rich simple syrup, egg white, and Angostura bitters in a shaker tin without ice.
- Dry shake vigorously for 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and build a fine foam.
- Add ice to the shaker tin and shake hard for another 12 to 15 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Fine strain the liquid through a mesh strainer into a chilled rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry and an expressed lemon peel.
Garnish
Garnish with a brandied cherry and a fresh lemon twist expressed over the surface.
Pro tip
When incorporating egg white, a dry shake without ice first ensures maximum foam stability before dilution. If omitting egg white, simply shake with ice directly and strain over a large clear ice cube.
History of the Brandy Sour
The Brandy Sour stands among the earliest documented members of the sour family, with printed references appearing in Jerry Thomas’s seminal 1862 barkeeper reference. While early American iterations generally combined brandy, sugar, lemon juice, and water or soda, the drink evolved globally over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It gained distinct national prominence in Cyprus, where local variations incorporating regional citrus and commandaria wine became a celebrated staple. Culinary historians debate whether the cocktail originated primarily in British colonial outports or American saloons, but its enduring framework remains a cornerstone of classic mixology.
Flavour profile
Citrusy, Tart, Rich, Aromatic
Variations
- Cypriot Brandy Sour — Replaces simple syrup with local lemon squash and a splash of Commandaria wine alongside soda water.
- Sidecar — Swaps simple syrup for orange liqueur for an intensely citrus-driven profile.
Practise making the Brandy Sour in the free Virtual Bar game.