5 Bar Tools You Need To Mix The Perfect Whisky Sour
The whisky sour is a classic mix which brings together about 30 ml of premium quality whisky with a splash of lime juice and a hint of simple syrup. This is a cocktail containing layered sweet, sour and tart flavours – the precise ingredients required to build an exquisite textbook blend. What lends the sour cocktail its signature velvety texture is the egg white foam which rests at the top of the drink. This foam is the result of the two-shake blending technique, where all the cocktail ingredients are first given a dry shake without ice before chilling it.
Evidently so, blending the whisky sour is a lesson in mixology and the art of crafting precise drinks. For the novice mixologist, this means using just the right kind of bar tools to mix the cocktail which will lend it the smooth structure and the balanced flavour that the whisky sour is known for. The significance of having the right bar tools then cannot be overstated.
Here’s more on some of the absolutely essential bar tools that can amateur mixologist can put to use while blending the whisky sour and why these tools can help the novice to master this classic blend:
Cocktail Shaker – Cobbler Style
First and foremost, this cocktail requires a sturdy shaker. All the ingredients are pooled together to give them two kinds of shakes to ready the final blend, necessitating a cobbler style shaker which has an in-built strainer. Not only will this ease the process of straining the residue from the cocktail once it is blended, but the three-part shaker will also be a handy tool for facilitating a hearty shake that blends citruses, syrup and the spirit smoothly. The egg white so essential to the cocktail will also foam itself well when shaken using a good instrument.
Jigger For Measuring
One instrument which every cocktail maker or amateur bartender ought to have in their arsenal is a jigger. This is a measuring tool that enables the amateur to carefully quantify all the essential ingredients required for building the whisky sour. Cocktail-making is an art governed by proportion – adding ingredients in the right quantity is a recipe for perfection. Inevitably, a jigger will be useful in arriving at the 2:1:1 golden ratio used for crafting the whisky sour.
Also Read: 5 Super Essential Bar Tools For Crafting Perfect Cocktails And Mocktails At Home
Citrus Juicer Or Reame
The whisky sour stands out because of its subtle yet ever present citrusy, sour quality. This flavour note seeps into the cocktail as much through its citrusy garnishes as through the fresh lime juice or orange juice incorporated in the recipe. What an amateur would then need to blend the precise whisky sour is a citrus juicer, which will extract every drop of juice from the fresh limes or melons used to prepare the cocktail. It will also take away any fruit residue in the form of pith or seeds, getting rid of all bitterness so only its sour elements are transferred into the cocktail.
Bar Spoon Or Teaspoon
For the amateur, measuring out a ‘dash’ or a ‘splash’ might be slightly complicated. While making whisky sour variations which involve the addition of bitters, one tool that can come in handy is a bar spoon or a simple teaspoon borrowed from the kitchen. This will simplify the process of adding flavour accents: half a teaspoon of bitters is a straightforward measure. As well, once the drink is ready, a bar spoon will also be instrumental in layering the cocktail with the egg white foam, allowing for more finesse and sophistication in the blend.
Fine Mesh Strainer
Yes, cobbler shakers do have an in-built strainer. But crafting that precise whisky sour means taking one’s bartending game to a different level of detail. Having a fine mesh strainer on hand can be exceedingly useful to eliminate any ice shards, pulp or egg white flecks from the recipe. This will lead to the creation of a texturally smooth cocktail, facilitating clean, uninterrupted presentation.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
