Whether you like your Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour or Sweet, this classic Wisconsin cocktail is great for grilling and chilling with family and friends!
Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour
When I lived in Wisconsin, supper clubs were a thing! Going to Friday night fish fry's was a blast! If you've never been to a supper club in the midwest, Wisconsin does it right.
You order your dinner and drinks in the bar and when your meal is ready, you're called to your table. Which seems kinda opposite, right? But it was a great opportunity to relax and visit with friends before the meal.
A Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour quickly became my cocktail of choice! Classically this drink would be served with pickled brussels sprouts, mushrooms or asparagus (yes pickled vegetables!) or green olives.
This cocktail can be served sweet - using brandy, a sugar cube and a maraschino cherry - or sour with whiskey and there's something about that sour that made it my favorite!
Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz whiskey
- 2 oz. grapefruit soda
- 3 pickled mushrooms
- dash bitters optional
Instructions
- Fill your cocktail glass with ice cubes.
- Add whiskey, top with soda.
- Ganish with your favorite pickled vegetables.
Love this recipe? Join the free membership group!
Nutrition
What's in an old fashioned?
An Old Fashioned Sour has:
- Sour Mix or Squirt or Lemon Lime Soda and Seltzer.
- Whiskey
- Bitters
- Pickled Vegetables
Use your whiskey of choice and the best your budget can afford. Rye whiskey is a traditional choice. The higher quality whiskey, the better the cocktail.
In a Whiskey Old Fashioned Sweet (not sour) you would use Maraschino cherries.
Great question! An Old Fahsioned is made with Bourbon or Rye whiskey, bitters and grapefruit soda. A manhattan uses Sweet Vermouth and an Old Fashioned uses plain sugar.
More of my favorite cocktails!
If this sassy sip has you feeling like a cocktail connoisseur, there are plenty more happy-hour heroes waiting for you. You might enjoy the bright and citrusy attitude of my Blood Orange Paloma, a fizzy little number that practically books its own vacation. For something a bit mysterious with a vintage vibe, The Last Word Cocktail brings gin, green Chartreuse, and maraschino liqueur together in a way that makes you wonder why you ever trusted anything else.
And if you're craving a sweet-tart classic that never met a martini glass it didn't love, the Lemon Drop Cocktail is always ready to shake things up. Cheers to expanding your home bar one delicious drink at a time. 🍸
Wrapping it up
Thanks for hanging out with me in cocktail land! I hope this old fashioned sour brings a little extra sparkle to your evening. Whether you're sipping it slow, clinking glasses with friends, or pretending your living room is a dimly lit speakeasy with questionable jazz.
If you give it a try, pop into the comments and tell me how it went. I love hearing your tweaks, your triumphs, and even the "wow, that escalated quickly" stories. Here's to good drinks, good company, and a home bar that's always ready for happy hour. Cheers!
Camden says
I have had many fun times with friends binging on bar food with a old fashioned sour like this in hand. Giving this a go this weekend for sure!
Debbie says
I am so intrigued with this old fashioned sour cocktail recipe! I love trying drinks I've never had before. Thank you for this yummy idea!
Alyssa says
I think my husband will enjoy this old fashioned whiskey sour. I am not much of a whiskey drinker, but he loves to try new whiskey drinks!
Debra Clark says
Cool, cheers Alyssa! It's a great cocktail.
Kristen says
Is there any way to make an alcohol-free version of an old fashioned sour?
Debra Clark says
Yes you can use non-alcoholic or spiritless bourbon!
Brittany says
It's hard to go wrong with an old fashioned sour! I haven't thought to pair it with a few of those garnishes though. I'll have to give them all a try!
Debra Clark says
My fav cocktail, cheers!!!
Carol Rozek says
You missed the muddled orange, cherry and sugar cube/sugar syrup, or old fashioned mix (for the easy route)
Bowl Me Over says
You're referring to a Whiskey Old Fashion Sweet, this is a Whiskey Old Fashioned Sour Carol. Perhaps you need to rethink the rating, since it isn't relevant.
Rob says
You are wrong your recipe here is a whiskey sour not old fashion sour. She is correct with the muddle of orange and cherry but you use a sour rather than sweet such as squirt.
Debra Clark says
Beg to differ Rob, but the whiskey sour I've enjoyed over the year includes an egg white and lemon juice. But if you've always had them a different way then perhaps we're both right. Regardless, cheers for Friday. Whether you like it sweet or sour, enjoy your Whiskey Old Fashioned!
Dave Mikilaitis says
I have lots of relatives from well north of Green Bay and they NEVER drink brandy old fas.hions. They usuall drink Canadian whiskey old fashions using cheap stuff like LTD and Canadian Club.
The pickled veggies are key to the drink. But the recipe I got from them requires a single sugar cube, bitters, and ginger ale or Squirt.
They are not cocktail snobs and have been drinking these for years to get a buzz on.
Bowl Me Over says
Use whatever brand of whiskey or brandy you prefer Dave - there are many ways to make this cocktail. Sounds like what you're referring to is a Whiskey Old Fashioned Sweet, where this recipe is for a sour old fashioned. Cheers and go pack go!
Amy Nash says
So funny that the state drink is milk instead of bourbon. I love JoyJolt glasses - I have some martini ones that are just beautiful but these ones have such great lines I might need to get them too!
Bowl Me Over says
I know, right? I guess I should have known that since it's the dairy state, but still! 🙂
Kathy says
A classic cocktail that is perfect for summer sipping with family and friends around the fire pit!
Bowl Me Over says
Most definitely - cheers Kathy!
michele says
We drink whisky sours often, and had never heard of a whisky sweet! Kind of LOVED it! Thanks for sharing!
Bowl Me Over says
You're welcome Michele!
Michaela Kenkel says
This whisky sour was unlike any I had ever had before!! Loved it!
Bowl Me Over says
Awesome, glad you enjoyed this cocktail!
Sandra Shaffer says
My husband orders old fashioned whiskey sours when we go out. He'll love this homemade version with grapefruit soda. Those glasses are super cute!
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you Sandra!!
Jennifer A Stewart says
I'll take a half dozen of these once I get this move finished! I love the mushrooms, what a great garnish!
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you!! Mushrooms or brussels sprouts totally make the drink Jennifer!
Angela says
Cheers my friend! This is one fantastic sounding cocktail. Love the grapefruit in there!
Bowl Me Over says
Awesome - make sure you give it a try Angela!!
Julie Menghini says
I love a good whiskey sour! I've never topped them with a picked veggie so will definitely be giving that a try!
Bowl Me Over says
It's a Wisconsin thing, but so tasty - cheers!!
debi at Life Currents says
What a fun summer drink! Sipping grill side - oh so lovely! And I love these glasses that you served this in! So pretty!
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Debi!! The glasses are so great for this cocktail, we just love them!!