Foamy and full of fun, the Tequila Sour is a spirited twist on the classic whiskey recipe. It’s an elegant, yet easy recipe that you’re sure to love!
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About this Tequila Sour recipe
Don’t be intimidated by its elegant exterior, the Tequila Sour is kind of like a margarita with a foamy top.
If you’ve ever had a whiskey sour, you’ll know that the classic cocktail is smooth, sweet and a little strong. When you swap the whiskey for tequila, you get a drink that’s a little more unbuttoned. Add in an egg white for a smooth, silky texture and you have a delightful sipper.
It would be perfect for elevating taco night or enjoying during an at-home cocktail hour. Since it comes together quickly, there’s really no limit on when you can enjoy it!
More classic recipes: Honey Lemon Whiskey Sour • Classic Margarita • Pisco Sour
Why you’ll love this recipe
- The drink looks elegant, but is seriously easy. If you need something to impress your guests, this is it!
- Perfect for any occasion. The blend of tequila and lime is a classic combo that goes with almost everything.
- It gives new life to a classic recipe. Swapping the spirit makes this a completely different drink from its whiskey counterpart.
Tools & glassware
I’ve said it before, but I really mean it — this recipe is easy! If you have a cocktail shaker *, you’re pretty much there. An egg separator tool is also helpful if you’re using whole eggs.
I chose rocks glasses for my drink, rather than the typical stemmed option of the whiskey sour, but you can use whatever type of glass you prefer.
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Ingredients
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
Before you begin to craft your own Tequila Sour, make sure you have the following:
- tequila
- lime juice (fresh-squeezed is best)
- agave nectar *
- egg white
- aromatic bitters (like angostura bitters)
- lime twist (for garnish)
using egg whites in drinks
Egg whites give drinks a silky texture with a foamy layer on top. The whites from pasteurized eggs are safe for drinks. You can also use non-egg foam alternative* designed for cocktails, store-bought liquid egg whites or aquafaba to achieve a similar effect.
Caution: Raw eggs can carry a risk of illness.
Best tequila for Tequila Sours
Like most spirits, there are different varieties of tequila that bring their own flavors and characteristics to their drinks. For this sour cocktail, I recommend reposado or añejo tequila. Reposado is aged in oak barrels, taking on the oak’s coloration and flavor while añejo is a premium tequila that’s perfect for spirit-forward cocktails like this one.
Now, if you already have a favorite tequila, go ahead and use that! My general rule of thumb for any cocktail is to use the best liquor you can afford. You’ll get a better drink with better quality booze.
Don’t miss Tequila 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.
Substitutions & variations
Seeing egg whites in an ingredient list can cause some hesitation, but rest assured as long as you follow these guidelines to safely using egg whites in cocktails, there’s no cause for concern. If you prefer to skip the egg whites, aquafaba is a vegan alternative made from chickpeas that offers a similar texture.
Tequila plays well with plenty of flavors, so feel free to switch up the citrus with lemon juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice if you like. Whichever you choose, grab your citrus juicer * and make sure you fresh-squeeze!
Agave compliments the flavors of tequila well, but you could also use simple syrup as your sweetener. Regular simple syrup will stay true to the original flavors of the drink while a flavored simple syrup can give you a unique twist.
Instructions
Now, let’s get shaking on your Tequila Sour! First, grab your cocktail shaker *, but hold the ice — for now.
Then, add your tequila, lime juice, agave nectar * and egg white. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to build the foam (this is called a dry shake, just like we use for a gin fizz). Add ice and shake again until well chilled and frothy, about 15 more seconds.
Strain your frothy mixture into a rocks glass *, or whichever glass you’re using. Then, take your bitters and drop them on top of the drink. If you’re feeling fancy, use a cocktail pick and draw a line through the middle of your dots to create a heart-shaped design. Add a lime twist as a garnish and you’re ready to sit back and enjoy!
Tips & tricks
- If you don’t want to fuss with separating an egg, pick up just egg whites at the store or use aquafaba.
- Shaking is the key to the frothy texture, so make sure you give it all you’ve got. You can even opt for a dry shake (shaking the ingredients without ice, then adding ice and continuing to shake) for more froth.
- An eyedropper used with your bitters can give you more precision for your design.
Food pairings
This Tequila Sour looks elegant, but can go with almost anything! Swap it out for the typical margarita on taco night and serve it alongside a plate of loaded steak nachos or nacho dip with homemade tortilla chips.
If you’re entertaining, you can’t go wrong with a charcuterie board or easy-to-eat puff pastry pinwheels. As a sweet touch, try a batch of lemon bars or gooey and delicious chocolate chip marshmallow cookies.
FAQ
The margarita and tequila sour both star tequila and lime juice with a sweetener, but the tequila sour contains egg white which gives it a frothy texture.
A tequila sour has a short list of required ingredients: tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, egg white are all that’s required. I prefer to add aromatic bitters to my drink to add to the depth of flavor.
Foam usually comes from the egg white (or aquafaba), and a few things can cause it to fall flat:
1) You didn’t dry shake the cocktail. Always shake without ice first to aerate the egg white.
2) You didn’t shake hard or long enough. A vigorous shake for at least 15 seconds is key to creating that frothy texture.
3) You added too much citrus or alcohol before shaking. This can break down the foam structure — combine ingredients in the right order and don’t skip the dry shake.
Yes! Aquafaba (chickpea water) is a great vegan alternative. Use about 1 ounce (3 tablespoons) in place of one egg white. It foams well, but may need a longer shake to achieve similar results.
More tequila recipes
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Tequila Sour
ingredients
- 2 ounces reposado tequila or añejo tequila
- 1 ounce lime juice freshly-squeezed
- 1 ounce agave nectar
- 1 egg white or 3 tablespoons aquafaba
- 4 drops aromatic bitters
- 1 piece lime twist for garnish
instructions
- In a cocktail shaker without ice, add tequila, lime juice, agave nectar and egg white. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to build the foam (this is called a dry shake). Add ice and shake again until well chilled and frothy, about 15 more seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass *. Dot the frothy top with bitters. Use a cocktail pick to draw a line through the middle to create the heart-shape design (optional).
- Garnish with a twist of lime zest.
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