Transform The Classic Whiskey Sour With Blended Scotch And Jam For A New, Sweet Sip
The whiskey sour is a classic cocktail for good reason, but it's no crime to occasionally grow weary of the standard recipe. Fortunately, via the transformative powers of blended Scotch and jam, a whiskey sour can become a sweet, delicious Monkey Jam Sour.
At its most basic, a whiskey sour contains whiskey, sugar, and lemon juice. The sugar may come in the form of a simple syrup, and many recipes also include egg white to give the drink a foamy head and a silkier texture. If you're hesitant about messing with such an iconic cocktail, don't be — people have been putting their own spin on it since day one.
The Monkey Jam Sour incorporates jam and Monkey Shoulder, a blended malt Scotch that's ideal for beginners. Blended only from single malt whiskies and intended to be used in mixed drinks, it has a smooth, fruity taste with subtle notes of vanilla. You can adapt our recipe for a classic whiskey sour by swapping out the American whiskey for Monkey Shoulder, and adding a few teaspoons of jam to your cocktail shaker along with the other ingredients (you can include egg white, leave it out, or replace it with aquafaba). After shaking vigorously twice — first without ice, then with ice — your cocktail will be ready to serve.
Tips for making a Monkey Jam Sour that's perfect for you
Adding a fruity twist to the whiskey sour is not uncommon — a pineapple whiskey sour, for example, is a popular variation — but the use of jam provides a richer flavor. Choosing which jam to use is half the fun — you could opt for your favorite store-bought jam, but if you believe nothing beats homemade, you can try our easy strawberry jam recipe. Some feel marmalade complements the notes of orange in Monkey Shoulder's flavor profile, but experimentation should be encouraged with this cocktail, so why not try it with apricot, peach, or purple fig jam?
When making this cocktail, you can stray from the the 3-2-1 ratio for a balanced whiskey sour as the Monkey Jam Sour is a sweeter drink, especially if you're using both jam and simple syrup. For an extra note of citrusy complexity, a few dashes of orange bitters may join the mix, and should you prefer your cocktail less strong and more effervescent, you can top it up with soda water. If you're sticking to whiskey sour convention, the Monkey Jam Sour can be served in a rocks glass or a sour glass, the latter of which is specifically intended for drinks like a whiskey sour. This stemmed glass will help your cocktail stay chilled — plus, you'll look darn elegant while drinking it.
