Frisco Sour recipe
An herbaceous whiskey sour where golden French liqueur softens tart citrus.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe glass ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Rye whiskey
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Bénédictine (DOM)
How to make a Frisco Sour
- Add rye whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and Bénédictine to a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.
- Shake vigorously for 12 seconds until thoroughly chilled and diluted.
- Double strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a chilled coupe glass.
- Express the oils from a lemon peel over the surface and discard or rest on the rim.
Garnish
Lemon peel twist
Pro tip
Using a high-rye whiskey cuts through the rich herbal sweetness of the Bénédictine without overpowering the drink.
History of the Frisco Sour
First appearing in cocktail literature during the 1930s, the exact origin of the Frisco Sour remains shrouded in ambiguity, though it is widely regarded as a regional West Coast variation on the classic whiskey sour. Modern bartenders still keep Frisco Sour in circulation because the recipe shows a clear point of view without needless decoration.
Flavour profile
Herbaceous, Tart, Spicy, Complex
Variations
- Bourbon Frisco — Substitute bourbon for rye whiskey to deliver a smoother, sweeter oak profile.
- Frisco Boulevardier — Add a dash of orange bitters and swap lemon juice for sweet vermouth in a stirred riff.
- Alpine Frisco — Incorporate génépy alongside Bénédictine for an intensified alpine herbal character.
Practise making the Frisco Sour in the free Virtual Bar game.