Raspberry Whisky Sour | Easy 4-Ingredient Cocktail

I’m not a big drinker, let’s start by saying that.

However, if it is an occasion where I’m having a cocktail, there’s a pretty good chance it’s whisky-based. I’m an Old Fashioned girl all day.

I love the smooth richness of a nicely balanced whisky or rye over a little bit of ice.

And I mean a little.

I’ve been known to dig into my drinks and remove excess ice before it waters down my alcohol. It’s a pet peeve of mine.

I take my whisky seriously.

So when I first tried this Raspberry Whisky Sour, I wasn’t entirely sure how I’d feel about a fruity whisky cocktail.

Turns out, I had nothing to worry about.

This cocktail combines whisky with tart lemon juice, sweet raspberry syrup and apple juice for a simple four-ingredient drink that’s fruity without completely hiding the whisky.

And it takes about five minutes to make.

What Is a Raspberry Whisky Sour?

Think of this as a fruitier twist on a classic whisky sour.

A traditional whisky sour generally combines whisky, fresh citrus and something sweet. This version gets its sweetness and fruit flavor from raspberry syrup and apple juice.

The lemon keeps everything from becoming overly sweet while the whisky still gives you that boozy warmth I actually want from a cocktail.

The result is fruity, tart, slightly sweet and deceptively easy to drink.

The Story Behind My Naked Raspberry Sour

I originally created this post after Naked Grouse sent me a bottle of their whisky along with everything I needed to make one of their signature cocktails—the Naked Raspberry Sour.

And sending whisky to someone as particular about it as I am?

Bold move, my friends.

Very bold.

At the time, Naked Grouse was made using whiskies from The Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes and matured in sherry casks.

I would have been perfectly happy pouring it over a couple of ice cubes, but since they’d given me everything to make the cocktail, I figured I’d give the Raspberry Sour a chance first.

Y’all.

This cocktail packs a punch.

Don’t let the raspberry fool you. It’s fruit-forward, but you still know you’re drinking a whisky cocktail.

The combination of raspberry, apple and fresh lemon works surprisingly well with the deeper whisky flavor.

What You’ll Need

Only four ingredients:

Whisky: Originally I made this with Naked Grouse, but you can use a whisky you already enjoy.

Apple juice: Adds sweetness and another layer of fruit flavor without overpowering the raspberry.

Raspberry syrup: This is what gives the cocktail its raspberry flavor and sweetness.

Fresh lemon juice: Definitely use fresh lemon if you can. The acidity balances all of the sweeter fruit flavors.

That’s it.

No complicated ingredient list and no obscure cocktail technique required.

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Tools for Making a Raspberry Whisky Sour

You don’t need an elaborate home bar setup for this recipe.

A cocktail shaker and rocks glass will get the job done.

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Useful cocktail tools:

Cocktail shaker

Rocks glasses

Large ice cube tray

And if you’ve read this far, you already know I’m voting for the large ice cubes.

Less surface area means slower dilution, and I don’t want half a glass of melting ice interfering with my whisky.

How to Make a Raspberry Whisky Sour

This really couldn’t be easier.

Add the whisky, apple juice, raspberry syrup and fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker.

Add ice and shake everything together until well chilled.

Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and serve immediately.

That’s it.

You’ve made yourself a cocktail.

What Whisky Should I Use?

The original cocktail was made with Naked Grouse, which is why I originally called this the Naked Raspberry Sour.

But you don’t need that exact bottle to make the recipe.

I’d choose a whisky that you already enjoy drinking rather than buying something solely for this cocktail.

Since there are only four ingredients, the whisky doesn’t disappear completely behind mixers—and I don’t think it should.

If you like a smoother, slightly richer whisky, start there.

Can I Make My Own Raspberry Syrup?

Absolutely.

If you don’t have raspberry syrup, you can make a simple version at home using raspberries, sugar and water.

That said, bottled raspberry syrup makes this an incredibly easy five-minute cocktail, so there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking the shortcut.

Is a Raspberry Whisky Sour Sweet?

It’s sweet, but I wouldn’t describe it as a super-sweet cocktail.

The apple juice and raspberry syrup provide sweetness, while the fresh lemon juice is important for balancing it.

If you prefer cocktails on the tart side, you can experiment with slightly reducing the raspberry syrup or adding a little more fresh lemon.

I would start with the original proportions first, though, and adjust from there.

Can I Make This Cocktail Ahead of Time?

For one cocktail, there’s really no reason to. It takes about five minutes.

But if you’re serving several people, you can measure your whisky, apple juice, raspberry syrup and lemon juice ahead of time and refrigerate the mixture.

Wait to shake it with ice until you’re ready to serve.

That way you get the convenience without unnecessarily diluting your cocktail.

How to Serve a Raspberry Whisky Sour

I like this in a rocks glass over a couple of good-sized ice cubes.

You could garnish it with:

• Fresh raspberries
• A lemon wheel or peel
• A few raspberries on a cocktail pick

Or do absolutely nothing.

It’s still going to taste good.

This is also a great fall cocktail because the whisky gives it that warmth I associate with cooler weather, while the raspberry and lemon keep it from feeling too heavy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s in a raspberry whisky sour?

This version contains whisky, apple juice, raspberry syrup and fresh lemon juice.

Can I use bourbon instead of whisky?

You can experiment with bourbon if that’s what you prefer. It will change the flavor slightly, but raspberry, apple and lemon all pair well with bourbon-style flavors too.

Does a whisky sour need egg white?

No. Some whisky sour recipes use egg white to create a foamy texture, but this particular raspberry whisky sour doesn’t require one.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

You can, but I’d strongly recommend fresh lemon juice for a cocktail with so few ingredients. The citrus is doing a lot of work balancing the raspberry syrup and apple juice.

What glass should I use for a whisky sour?

I serve this version in a rocks glass over ice.

A Fruity Whisky Cocktail I’ll Actually Drink

I originally went into this recipe expecting to try the Raspberry Sour and then go right back to drinking my whisky over ice.

Instead, it gave me another whisky cocktail I actually liked.

The raspberry makes it fruit-forward, the fresh lemon keeps everything balanced and you still get that boozy whisky finish.

So if you’re normally an Old Fashioned person but want something a little fruitier, give this one a try.

And please—don’t drown it in ice.

Xx Sylvia