August 25th is National Whiskey Sour day. The whiskey sour has a long history in the world of cocktails, making an appearance in the first published cocktail book, Jerry Thomas' The Bon Vivant's Companion or How to Mix Drinks.
The sour evolved from the practice of adding lime juice to rum rations to prevent scurvy among sailors in the British Navy in the 1700s. As fresh fruit was perishable, the juice would be doctored with rum, or gin or later sometimes whiskey in order to preserve the juice as well as to ensure the health of the sailors. It didn't take long to figure out that citrus and spirits were enhanced by a bit of sugar making a rather palatable and delicious cocktail. At its most simple, the modern whiskey sour is simply whiskey, lemon or lime juice (or a combination of the two) and sugar. While there are a number of embellishments modern bartenders might add, the classic whiskey sour remains an iconic cocktail and one worth celebrating today. Try this whiskey sour recipe today or experiment with other combinations and enjoy this summertime classic.