Pineapple Whiskey Sour

The Pineapple Whiskey Sour is a perfect tropical twist on the classic whiskey sour cocktail! The combination of sweet, tart and fruit flavors gives this drink a refreshing feel, but keeps the warm whiskey notes of the original. It's an ideal sipper for a relaxing evening or a warm summer afternoon.

This is a great summer cocktail recipe, and it's really easy to make. The whiskey and pineapple juice combination is so good and underused, in my opinion!

If you enjoy this drink, you'll also love the Pineapple Whiskey Smash, which uses whole fruit instead of juice. Or, the Mango Mai Tai is another absolutely delicious tropical drink.

The delicious frozen Malagoli Whiskey Sour is another refreshing whiskey recipe to try!

Looking for more of the classics? The Amaretto Stone Sour and the New York Sour (a whiskey sour cocktail with a red wine float) will also be right up your alley! Or, this cranberry version of a whiskey sour is so good for the fall and winter months.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make this drink:

• Whiskey - I used Irish whiskey, which is typically a blended style of whiskey and works really well in this drink.
• Pineapple juice - this is the star of the show! Dole brand pineapple juice works great, or go for fresh pressed.
• Lemon juice
• Maple syrup
• Fresh pineapple garnish (optional)

Substitutions

Here are some ways you can substitute the ingredients in this cocktail:

• Whiskey - you can substitute in a bourbon or rye whiskey instead of a blended whiskey. Or, go for a dark rum or aged brandy if you don't have whiskey.
• Pineapple juice - try substituting in orange juice or mango puree instead. You may need to add in a little extra lemon juice, since those ingredients are a little less tart than pineapple.
• Lemon juice - lime juice will work in a pinch, but you may need to adjust by adding a little bit more maple syrup since lime juice is more sour than lemon juice.
• Maple syrup - you can use simple syrup instead of maple, at a 1 to 1 sugar to water ratio (check out my simple syrup recipe to make your own). Or, you can use a demerara syrup or agave nectar.

Variations

Here are some tasty variations on this recipe:

• Pineapple Cinnamon Sour - Cinnamon is a staple flavor in tropical Tiki drinks for a reason! It goes really well with pineapple and other fruit flavors. Try using cinnamon syrup instead of maple, and garnish with a cinnamon stick along with the pineapple wedge.
• Ginger Beer - top off this drink with a little ginger beer to add a kick of ginger spice and carbonation.
• Non-alcoholic version - it's easy to make this drink without alcohol. Just switch out the whiskey for a non-alcoholic whiskey substitute. Try out Monday Whiskey (my preference) or Ritual whiskey alternative (Ritual has a little spiciness to mimic the burn of alcohol).
• Strawberry version - want to lean more into the fruit flavors? Try adding two fresh strawberries to your cocktail shaker, and smashing them up before you mix the drink. Or, you could use a strawberry syrup (I really like Liquid Alchemist strawberry syrup) in place of the maple.
• Foam top - to add a foam layer on top, you can add in an egg white, or use a vegan cocktail foamer. You'll have to shake the drink without ice, and then again with ice, to develop the foam before pouring it into the glass.

Equipment

You'll just need to have a few standard bar tools to make this drink. A jigger, a cocktail shaker and strainer, and a serving glass are key!

I used a lowball glass (aka old fashioned glass), but you can also use a tall Collins glass or tumbler.

If you want to serve this drink without ice, you can use a stemmed coupe glass or martini glass.

For the crushed ice, I used an ice mallet and Lewis bag and smashed up some regular freezer ice. (It's pretty fun actually!)

If you need any new bar equipment, definitely check out the products from A Bar Above! Grab 10% off by using my discount code, LKDrinks. Their bar tools are really pretty, and also can be washed in the dishwasher!

Instructions

Start out by making your garnish. Although it's optional, it really gives the drink a nice tropical touch! Cut up some fresh pineapple and cut out the core.

Slice it into wedges, and then make a slit in the bottom of each piece where it can attach to the rim of the glass.

Set the pineapple aside while you make the drink.

Start out making the drink by adding lemon juice to your cocktail shaker.

Add in the maple syrup and pineapple juice to the cocktail shaker.

Pour in the whiskey to the shaker, and then fill the shaker with ice.

Seal up the shaker and shake vigorously, about 15-20 hard shakes.

Add fresh ice to your cocktail glass (crushed ice or pebble ice is great, but use what you have on hand).

Strain the drink into your serving glass, and add your pineapple garnish to the rim of the glass.

Serve and enjoy!

Hint: Try chilling all of your ingredients for about 30 minutes before making the drink. This will help it to stay colder longer, and the ice won't melt as quickly.

Top tip

The key to a great Pineapple Whiskey Sour lies in the balance of sweet and sour flavors. If your drink tastes too tart, add a little more maple syrup. If it's too sweet, a bit more lemon juice will do the trick!

Or, if you want a little extra flavor, try adding some cocktail bitters. A dash of angostura bitters or Elemakule Tiki bitters would work really well in this drink!