Continental Sour recipe
A sophisticated evolution of the classic whiskey sour, crowned with a rich fortified wine float.
Method: Shaken and strained with a wine float ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon whiskey
- 3/4 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz Simple syrup
- 2 dashes Aromatic bitters
- 1/2 oz Tawny port (or dry red wine)
How to make a Continental Sour
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and add the bourbon, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and aromatic bitters.
- Shake vigorously for 12 seconds until thoroughly chilled and properly diluted.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with a large clear ice cube.
- Hold a bar spoon upside down just above the liquid surface and slowly pour the tawny port over it to form a distinct floating layer.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry and a lemon wheel.
Garnish
Brandied cherry and lemon wheel
Pro tip
Pour the port wine slowly over the back of a bar spoon held close to the drink surface to ensure a clean floating layer without bleeding into the sour base prematurely.
History of the Continental Sour
Emerging in the late 19th century as a regional variant of the traditional whiskey sour, the Continental Sour shares its lineage with the New York Sour, though precise historical attribution remains disputed between Chicago and New York barrooms. Originally known by various names including the Claret Snap and Southern Whiskey Sour, the drink gained distinction through the addition of a rich red wine or port float, a technique documented in American barkeep manuals during the 1880s.
Flavour profile
Citrusy, Tart, Complex
Variations
- New York Sour — Substitutes dry red wine such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon for the tawny port, yielding sharper tannins.
- Southern Whiskey Sour — Replaces bourbon with spicy rye whiskey and incorporates a dash of orange bitters.
- Claret Snap — A late 19th-century precursor featuring French brandy base paired with claret wine float.
Practise making the Continental Sour in the free Virtual Bar game.