Frisco Sour Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 04/29/21
Classic Frisco Sour Cocktail Recipe

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Frisco sour is similar to the classic whiskey sour and it's a very satisfying cocktail. The main difference between the two is that that the Frisco adds Benedictine and uses lime juice as well as lemon.

It is a great sour drink if you like your cocktails on the tart side, though the key here is to keep everything in balance. Too much citrus and it will be too tart, ruining an otherwise perfect cocktail. Then again, you don't want too much Benedictine because it is a rather sweet liqueur. Try it with the even pour of the three accent ingredients, then adjust it from there to suit your taste.

Rye is the original whiskey of choice, as it was for so many classic cocktails. Over the years when rye whiskey was in a slump, many people chose to pour bourbon, which remains an excellent choice. You can also go with a smooth blended whiskey like those made in Canada. Many include a good portion of rye, so it's a natural fit.

Each whiskey offers a different flavor and every brand will as well. Explore your options and try the Frisco sour with a few different whiskeys to discover which you enjoy most.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey

  • 1/2 ounce Bénédictine Liqueur

  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice

  • 1/2 ounce lime juice

  • Lemon slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the whiskey, Bénédictine, and lemon and lime juices. Fill with ice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a sour glass.

  5. Garnish with a lemon slice. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • As with any sour drink, this one will taste better with fresh-squeezed citrus juices.
  • Rather than squeezing half a lime or lemon into your shaker, take the time to measure them out. Maintaining that balance requires precision and juice yields vary from one fruit to the next.

Recipe Variations

As is typical with classic drinks, there are many slight variations on this recipe. The taste is essentially the same, but the overall character is often accented by one element. Some of these may work better with certain whiskeys, too.

  • If you want to give the drink a boost, pour up to 3/4 ounce of lemon juice, keeping the other ingredients the same as the recipe.
  • To make the Frisco sour slightly sweeter, bump the Benedictine up to 3/4 ounce.
  • Some recipes skip the lime juice, opting for lemon alone. The pour remains at 1/2 ounce.
  • You will find recipes that use the lemon juice alone, add 1/4 ounce of simple syrup, and an egg white. The addition of egg is an old sour drink favorite. You won't get an eggy flavor from the white but will get a different mouthfeel and a luscious foamy top on the drink.
  • There's also the Frisco cocktail, though its recipe is not easily agreed upon either. Typically, you'll be making a Frisco when you skip the citrus juices. Instead, pour a shot of whiskey with a little (up to 1/2 ounce) Benedictine then garnish it with a lemon twist.

How Strong Is a Frisco Sour?

The long shot of whiskey ramps up the Frisco sour's flavor as well as its alcohol content. If you pour the average 80-proof whiskey it mixes up to 25 percent ABV (50 proof). That's typical of whiskey drinks like this, just be aware that they add up quickly.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
137 Calories
0g Fat
3g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 137
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 11mg 53%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 45mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)