How to Make The Perfect Whiskey Sour Mocktail

Prep time: 3 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 2 ounces non-alcoholic whiskey alternative (Lyre’s American Malt or Ritual Zero Proof)
• 0.8 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 0.8 ounces simple syrup
• 1 egg white or aquafaba
• 0.3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 dashes alcohol-free aromatic bitters (garnish)
• 1 Luxardo cherry or lemon wheel (garnish)

Instructions

1. Dry shake: Add 1 egg white or aquafaba to the shaker with no ice. Shake hard for 10 seconds 00:10.

2. Add remaining ingredients: Add 2 ounces non-alcoholic whiskey alternative (Lyre’s American Malt or Ritual Zero Proof), 0.8 ounces fresh lemon juice, 0.8 ounces simple syrup, 0.3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, and plenty of ice.

3. Shake again: Shake hard for 15–17 seconds 00:17.

4. Strain: Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube or into a chilled coupe.

5. Garnish: Drop 2 dashes alcohol-free aromatic bitters (garnish) onto the foam and drag a toothpick through. Add 1 Luxardo cherry or lemon wheel (garnish) on the rim.

Notes

Why this works so well: The whiskey sour’s character is largely defined by lemon, sweetness, and foam, none of which require alcohol. The spirit alternative adds body and a hint of oak/caramel, but the egg white and lemon do the heavy lifting here.

Apple cider vinegar: Keeps the punch that would otherwise go missing without the spirit’s proof. Same small amount as the other mocktails 1/4 tsp, not more.

Egg white / aquafaba: Use aquafaba if serving to anyone avoiding raw eggs. One ounce of the liquid from a can of chickpeas works identically to egg white for foam purposes.

Bitters garnish: Use Ritual Zero Proof or another alcohol-free bitters for the garnish drops — it keeps the drink fully zero-proof and still adds that aromatic nose.