tequila sour

This tequila sour recipe has the perfect balance of tart lime, sweet syrup, luxurious silken egg white foam, and the ever-evolving notes of good tequila.

The tequila sour cocktail is a fresh and minimalist way to use tequila. You don't need much more than good blanco tequila to make this killer cocktail!

Ours uses a ton of fresh lime for a chalky bite, a dash of Angostura bitters for warm spice, and arguably the most important part of a sour: a thick, silky egg white foam. The egg white mellows out the intense agave flavors and gives the drink the silkiest mouthfeel.

But you can totally make this tequila sour without eggs. Just skip it! The cocktail will be bright, clean, and a bit more tart.

Keep reading for tips on how to make the thickest egg white foam (and how to make this vegan!), as well as a few ways you can make this tequila sour recipe your own.

Tequila sour ingredients:

• blanco tequila
• lime
• simple syrup
• egg white
• Angostura bitters

How to make a tequila sour cocktail:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
2. Vigorously shake for about a minute (dry shake).
3. Add ice and shake until chilled.
4. Strain into a chilled coupe.
5. Garnish with a dash of Angostura bitters.
6. Enjoy!

Make this tequila sour your own:

• Use a rich aged tequila for notes of caramel, roasted nuts, and spice.
• Use mezcal for a smoky twist.
• Swap in lemon juice for a softer, rounder drink.
• Serve it on the rocks.
• Use agave in place of simple syrup to mirror the earthy flavor profile of tequila.
• Try different bitters: grapefruit, smoked chili, or spicy chocolate would be delicious!
• Muddle in fresh herbs (basil, mint, cilantro).
• Add 1 oz of fruit puree (mango, raspberry, peach, guava, pineapple) and increase acid a bit, if needed.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or chili powder before shaking.
• Garnish with a cocktail cherry (we love Luxardo!).
• Garnish with a lime twist, edible flowers, dried citrus slice, or flavored salt.

tequila sour vs margarita: what's the difference?

I asked my husband the same thing. He's our in-house mixologist and knows everything about all the cocktails.

Here's the thing: a margarita is a type of tequila sour.

It uses lime juice as the acid and orange liqueur as the sweetener. The orange liqueur is the biggest differentiator: it adds a lot of flavor and sugar, and it makes the drink stronger! Margaritas also typically have a salt rim and are served on the rocks (or blended if you're fancy!).

For a basic tequila sour, you can use lime or lemon for the acid (we love lime). The sweetener is simple syrup (though you could use agave or even a diluted honey syrup). But here's another big difference: most sour cocktails use an egg-white foam. They're optional, of course, but it's common to have a creamy egg white foam in a sour cocktail. And that's very different from a marg!

Tips for the best egg white foam:

If you’re new to egg-white foams, don’t fear! We’re sold on the dry shake technique because it’s reliable and simple.

1. Shake everything without ice first, which helps loosen up the egg white and build volume. This is your chance to build the foundation of a thick foam. 
2. Then add ice and shake just enough to chill.

Note: There is always a risk of salmonella when consuming raw eggs. Be extra cautious or avoid them altogether if you have a compromised immune system.

Make it this a vegan tequila sour!

1. Swap the egg white with ¾ oz aquafaba (canned chickpea liquid).
2. Dry shake it a bit longer than you would with an egg white, then add ice and shake until just chill.
3. Strain into your glass and enjoy!

Some of our favorite tequilas to try:

For an all-purpose blanco tequila, try Del Maguey or Hornitos. These are best for mixing in cocktails like this tequila sour and margaritas.

For an extra special treat, search out a bright, smooth, earthy bottle of Emerald Spear!

This cocktail is simple aromatically, so the more intricate the tequila, the more interesting your drink will be.

more tequila cocktails to try:

blackberry tequila spritzer with red wine float

blood orange margarita

cantarito drink

cucumber mint margarita

hibiscus margarita

mango margarita (frozen and on the rocks!)

mexican mule (tequila ginger beer cocktail)

pineapple margarita

ranch water

spicy cilantro jalapeño margarita

strawberry margarita

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