Sherry Sour

The Sherry Sour is an elegant and often overlooked classic that showcases the versatility of fortified wine. Unlike its whiskey- or pisco-based cousins, it offers a lower-ABV experience with complex nutty, saline, and fruity notes from the sherry. The combination of lemon juice and simple syrup provides the classic sweet and sour backbone, while an optional egg white gives it a rich, silky texture and a beautiful foam cap. It is a perfectly balanced cocktail that is both refreshing and complex.
Sherry Sour

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Sherry Sour is a classic cocktail belonging to the "sour" family of drinks. Sours are a traditional category of mixed drinks containing a base spirit, a sour element like citrus juice, and a sweetener. This version simply substitutes a spirit with fortified wine.

Serving

Served cold without ice in a chilled coupe glass, this is a relatively low-alcohol cocktail with a distinctive nutty character and silky texture.
Serving size
~120-150 ml / 4-5 oz
Alcohol content
~12-15% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The Sherry Sour is a variation within the vast "sour" family, which dates back to the mid-19th century. While its specific origins are murky, it likely emerged as bartenders began experimenting with different base liquors in the classic sour formula. Its popularity has waxed and waned, but it has seen a resurgence in modern craft cocktail bars for its unique flavor profile and lower alcohol content.
Origin
The "sour" family of cocktails originated in the 19th century. The specific origin of the Sherry Sour is not well-documented but it is considered a classic variation from that era or the early 20th century.

Sherry Sour

The drink is most commonly known as the Sherry Sour. Variations are often named after the specific type of sherry used as the base, such as an Amontillado Sour or Fino Sour, to denote the specific flavor profile.
Original name
Sherry Sour
Alternative names
  • Amontillado Sour
  • Fino Sour

Characteristics overview

The Sherry Sour presents a complex nutty and savory aroma with bright citrus notes, leading to a balanced sour and sweet taste. It has a silky, velvety texture (with egg white) and a clean, refreshing finish.
Flavor
Nutty, citrusy, balanced, slightly savory, complex
Aroma
Lemon zest, almonds, saline, oxidative
Taste balance
Sour, sweet, savory
Aftertaste
Clean, nutty, lingering citrus
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale gold, cloudy, opaque with a white foam head
Texture
Silky, smooth, creamy, velvety
Seasonality
Refreshing, all-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The drink is refreshingly sour with a moderate sweetness and a unique nutty, savory character from the sherry. It is a low-alcohol, non-carbonated cocktail with a creamy texture if an egg white is included.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires a good quality sherry (Amontillado is recommended), fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. An optional egg white can be added for a classic rich and foamy texture.
  • Amontillado Sherry60 ml / 2 oz
    Oloroso or Fino sherry can also be used for different flavor profiles.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Must be freshly squeezed for best results.
  • Simple Syrup15 ml / 0.5 oz
    1:1 sugar to water ratio. Adjust to taste.
  • Egg White15 ml / 0.5 oz(optional)
    Adds texture and foam. Can be substituted with aquafaba for a vegan version or omitted entirely.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard cocktail shaking set, including a shaker, jigger, and strainers. The fine mesh strainer is key to achieving a smooth texture if using egg white.
  • Cocktail shaker for shaking
  • Jigger for measuring
  • Hawthorne strainer for primary straining
  • Fine mesh strainer for double straining

Instructions

The key steps are the dry shake without ice to build foam, followed by a wet shake with ice to chill and dilute. Double straining into a chilled glass ensures a perfect texture and presentation.
1. Chill your coupe glass by filling it with ice and water.
2. Add the sherry, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white (if using) to a cocktail shaker without ice.
3. Perform a "dry shake": seal the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white and create foam.
4. Open the shaker, fill it with cubed ice, and seal it again.
5. Perform a "wet shake": shake hard for another 10-12 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
6. Discard the ice from your serving glass.
7. Double strain the contents of the shaker into the chilled glass, using both a Hawthorne and a fine mesh strainer.
8. Garnish with an expressed orange twist or by dropping a few dashes of bitters onto the foam. Serve immediately.

Garnishing

A simple orange twist expressed over the drink adds complementary aromatic oils. Alternatively, a few drops of Angostura bitters can be artfully placed on the foam for visual appeal and aroma.
  • Orange twist, for expressing oils over the drink and placing on the rim
  • Angostura bitters, for dotting on the foam as an alternative garnish

Dietary Information

This drink is vegetarian but not vegan due to the egg white, which can be omitted or replaced with aquafaba for a vegan version. It is naturally free of dairy, gluten, nuts, and caffeine.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✕ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

The Sherry Sour is a relatively low-calorie cocktail, with around 160 kcal per serving. Its carbohydrate and sugar content comes primarily from the simple syrup and lemon juice.
Calories
150-180 kcal / 627-753 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
10-12 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
9-11 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is perfect as a sophisticated aperitif to stimulate the palate before a meal. Its balanced and not-too-strong character makes it an excellent choice for cocktail parties or any elegant social gathering.
  • Aperitif
  • Pre-dinner drinks
  • Cocktail party
  • Sophisticated gathering

Pairing suggestions

The nutty and slightly savory notes of the Sherry Sour pair beautifully with Spanish tapas. Think salty Marcona almonds, briny olives, cured meats like Jamón Ibérico, or hard cheeses like Manchego. It also complements light seafood appetizers.
  • Marcona almonds
  • Olives
  • Tapas (like Jamón Ibérico or Manchego cheese)
  • Light seafood dishes

The Sherry Sour: An Elegant and Nutty Classic

The Sherry Sour is an elegant, sophisticated, and surprisingly refreshing cocktail that offers a delightful alternative to more common spirit-based sours. Its foundation of nutty sherry creates a complex flavor profile, beautifully balanced by the bright tartness of fresh lemon and a hint of sweetness. With a lower alcohol content and a silky, foamy texture from the optional egg white, it is the perfect choice for an aperitif or a refined cocktail hour, demonstrating the incredible versatility of sherry.

Similar Cocktails

Whiskey Sour

The classic sour made with whiskey (usually bourbon or rye) as the base spirit, resulting in a richer, grain-forward cocktail.

Pisco Sour

Uses Pisco, a Peruvian or Chilean brandy, as the base, giving it a distinct grape and floral character.

Amaretto Sour

Features amaretto liqueur as the base, leading to a much sweeter cocktail with prominent almond and marzipan flavors.

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