National Whiskey Sour Day is a holiday that’s observed on August 25th and celebrates a drink that goes back to at least 1862. The whiskey sour is a drink that’s often made with bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, sugar, and occasionally a cocktail foamer or egg white. Some variations of this drink include the New York Sour, the Boston Sour, the Baltimore Bang, the Libertine, Pedro’s Revolver, and the Citrus Saveur. Any of these drinks is perfect for sipping on this hot summer day.

The History of the Whiskey Sour

The first written recipe for the whiskey sour was printed in The Bartender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas in 1862. However, that’s only the first recorded instance of this drink; it’s very likely that it existed for decades before that date since many different types of citrus drinks were popular during the 19th century. The popularity of citrus drinks at this time was because sailors were looking for a way to prevent scurvy on board their ships without having to have a lot of storage space available to them. Combining citrus juices with alcohol was an economical way for them to get Vitamin C into their diet and do it without sacrificing cargo space. It was probably sailors who brought the whiskey sour to shore.

Facts About the Whiskey Sour

Now that we understand a little bit more about National Whiskey Sour Day, as well as the origin of the whiskey sour, it’s time to turn our attention to talking about some of the other lesser-known facts about this drink. So if you consider yourself to be a fan of the whiskey sour, then read on to learn a few bits of trivia about it.

• Whiskey sours made with rye tend to be spicier than those made with bourbon.
• If an egg white is added to a whiskey sour, then it’s called a Boston sour.
• If red wine is added to a whiskey sour, then it’s called a New York sour.
• For those looking for a sweeter drink, make a rum sour by substituting the whiskey with rum.

Observing National Whiskey Sour Day

Observing this holiday is as easy as whipping up a whiskey sour, or one of its variations, and enjoying it with friends. You can also head out to your local drinking establishment and enjoy it there on this day. While you’re sipping your whiskey sour, just remember two things: one, make sure that you drink responsibly on this day, and two, make sure you post to social media using the hashtag #NationalWhiskeySourDay.