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Vodka Sour

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close up shot of glasses of vodka sour garnished with a lemon
Our vodka sour is a refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail with simple ingredients and a tangy flavor, making it perfect for any occasion!
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Table of Contents
  1. Vodka Sour Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make This Vodka Sour Recipe
  4. How To Serve
  5. Storage
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. More Recipes You’ll Love
  8. JUMP TO RECIPE
  9. Even More Recipes You’ll Love

A citrusy vodka sour is a classic cocktail made with a combination of vodka and old-fashioned lemonade, making it the perfect drink for a hot summer day. The addition of egg whites gives this refreshing drink a creamy, foamy top once shaken for the ideal finish.

close up shot of a glass of vodka sour garnished with a lemon

Vodka Sour Ingredients

vodka sour raw ingredients that are labeled
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The classic vodka sour drink is a zesty and vibrant cocktail with the perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors. 

The tartness of the lemonade gives the drink plenty of zing, while the vodka adds the perfect kick to the drink. 

On a hot summer day, it’s almost like sipping on sunshine!

You’ll need:

  • ¾ cup of old-fashioned fresh lemonade, chilled
  • 1½ ounces of vodka 
  • 1 ounce of pasteurized egg whites (from the carton)
  • Ice
  • A slice of lemon, garnish

Substitutions And Additions

VODKA & LEMONADE: Because this is such a simple cocktail, you will want to use a good quality vodka (I like to use Tito’s brand) and a good quality old-fashioned lemonade.

I like to get my lemonade from the deli of my local grocery store. Just be sure to use a great-tasting brand, as this and the vodka are the stars of this drink.

EGG WHITE: You can omit the pasteurized egg whites if you desire.

This is what gives these drinks the classic “frothy” white foam top when served; however, they do not affect the taste in any way.

LEMON JUICE: If you want to squeeze your own fresh lemon juice for this easy cocktail, I suggest using Meyer lemons for this drink.

They have more of a sweet-tart flavor and are not as strong as a standard yellow lemon. Their taste is like lemon and orange combined.

You will need to add at least ½-1 ounce of simple syrup to your drink mixture if you are not using a pre-made, pre-sweetened lemonade.

How To Make This Vodka Sour Recipe

This simple drink will come together quickly in a cocktail shaker, and before you know it, you’ll be sipping away at this refreshing cocktail.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This sour vodka recipe makes one drink. You can easily double or triple it if you are sharing it with friends.

STEP ONE: In the cup of a cocktail shaker, add the lemonade, vodka, and pasteurized egg whites. Shake for 15 seconds.

PRO TIP:

If you are going to use pasteurized egg whites, be sure not to add the ice before the first shake.

This allows the acid to combine with the proteins in the egg to be strong enough to create the frothy topping. This is what is known as the dry shake method before adding the ice to the cocktail shaker.

lemon, vodka, and egg whites added to a shaker

STEP TWO: To the cocktail shaker, with the partially shaken mixture, add ice (approximately one cup) and shake vigorously for an additional 15 to 20 seconds.

STEP THREE: Pour the vodka sour into a low-ball glass while straining out the ice. Be sure to shake out as much of the frothy liquid as possible into your glass.

vodka soda poured into a glass

STEP FOUR: Garnish the rim of your cocktail glass with a fresh lemon slice.

PRO TIP:

You can add a few ice cubes to your glass before serving your vodka sour cocktail if you like your drinks really cold.

glass of the drink garnished with a slice of lemon

How To Serve

The vodka sour makes a great summer cocktail and pairs well with a variety of snacks and appetizers that are relatively easy to prepare. 

Consider serving snacks such as salted peanuts, olives, pineapple salsa, and guacamole with the cocktail. 

A cheese plate or our fruit salsa and cinnamon chips are an excellent accompaniment for the sour cocktail as well. 

Add even more cocktail recipes to your bartending menu with our watermelon cocktail and our strawberry lemonade cocktail.

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE/FREEZER: This classic drink should be served immediately while it is still cold from the shaker. We don’t recommend trying to save any leftovers for later.

close up shot of a glass of vodka sour garnished with candies

A vodka sour makes for a great cocktail that pairs well with a variety of snacks and appetizers. With its simple recipe and citrusy flavor, it’s easy to make the perfect vodka sour for any occasion. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of vodka should I use to make a vodka sour?

You can use any type of vodka you prefer, although we recommend that you choose one that you enjoy sipping since the vodka is one of the stars of this drink.

Can I make this drink ahead of time?

This classic sour cocktail recipe is best made when you are ready to enjoy it, as it won’t keep in the fridge.

What is the best glass to use for this drink?

We used a lowball glass for this recipe, but any glass you have on hand would be perfect for your drink.

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close up shot of glasses of vodka sour garnished with a lemon

Vodka Sour

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Our vodka sour is a refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail with simple ingredients and a tangy flavor, making it perfect for any occasion!
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup old-fashioned fresh lemonade, chilled
  • ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce pasteurized egg whites, from the carton
  • Ice
  • 1 slice fresh lemon, garnish

Instructions
 

  • In the cup of a cocktail shaker, add the lemonade, vodka, and pasteurized egg whites. Shake for 15 seconds.
  • To the cocktail shaker, with the partially shaken mixture, add ice (approximately 1 cup) and shake vigorously for an additional 15 to 20 seconds.
  • Pour the vodka sour into a lowball glass while straining out the ice. Be sure to shake out as much of the frothy liquid as possible into your glass.
  • Garnish the rim of your glass with a fresh lemon slice.

Notes

  • You can omit the pasteurized egg whites if you desire. This is what gives these drinks the classic “frothy” top when served; however, they do not affect the taste in any way.
  • If you are going to use pasteurized egg whites, be sure not to add the ice before the first shake. This allows the acid to combine with the proteins in the egg to be strong enough to create the froth. This is what is known as a dry shake before adding the ice to the cocktail shaker.
  • Because this is such a simple cocktail, you will want to use a good quality vodka (I like to use Tito’s brand) and a good quality old-fashioned lemonade. I like to get my lemonade from the deli of my local grocery store. Just be sure to use a great-tasting brand, as this and the vodka are the stars of this drink.
  • If you want to squeeze your own lemon juice, I suggest using Meyer lemons for this drink. They have more of a sweet-tart flavor and are not as strong as a standard yellow lemon. Their taste is like lemon and orange combined. You will need to add at least ½ to 1 ounce of simple syrup to your drink mixture if you are not using a pre-made, pre-sweetened lemonade.

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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