Sherry Sour recipe
A nutty, low-ABV sour highlighting Palo Cortado sherry, fresh citrus, and silky egg white.
Method: Shake and fine strain ·
Glass: Chilled coupe glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Sidecar Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Palo Cortado sherry
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz Rich simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water ratio)
- 0.5 oz Egg white (Optional for texture)
How to make a Sherry Sour
- Combine Palo Cortado sherry, fresh lemon juice, rich simple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker without ice.
- Dry shake vigorously for 10 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
- Add ice to the shaker and shake hard again for 12 to 15 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Double strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a brandied cherry and an expressed lemon peel.
Garnish
Garnish with a brandied cherry and a single expressed lemon peel resting on top.
Pro tip
Palo Cortado provides an ideal balance of nutty oxidation and crisp acidity, but you can experiment with Oloroso or Amontillado depending on your preferred depth of flavor. Always dry shake thoroughly before adding ice to achieve a rich, velvety foam crown.
History of the Sherry Sour
While various citrus-and-sherry combinations appeared in nineteenth-century British and American bartending manuals alongside classic spirit sours, the modern Sherry Sour emerged as a contemporary low-ABV alternative to whiskey and brandy sours. Some cocktail historians attribute its popularization to craft bars seeking sessionable aperitif-style drinks, though exact origins remain undocumented. By substituting aged sherry for heavier distillates, bartenders created a lighter profile that emphasizes the complex nutty characteristics of fortified wines while retaining the traditional structural balance of a classic sour.
Flavour profile
nutty, citrusy, tart, dry
Variations
- Oloroso Sherry Sour — Substitute Oloroso sherry for Palo Cortado to deliver a heavier, richer dried-fruit and walnut profile.
- Amontillado Herb Sour — Use Amontillado sherry and add a dash of orange bitters and a rosemary sprig garnish for herbaceous depth.
Practise making the Sherry Sour in the free Virtual Bar game.