I have this vivid memory of making Midori sours with my friend Laura. We must have been 23 at the time. The drinks were electric green and required just three ingredients: Midori melon-flavored liquor, store-bought sour mix, and maraschino cherries.
The food snob in me now winces at the very thought!
Fortunately, this honey tangerine whiskey sour is nothing like those cocktails of my youth. The only thing they have in common is the maraschino cherries, and that’s only because I couldn’t find morellos at Stop & Shop. (If you can find them, use them.)
There is basically no reason to buy sour mix, ever. It’s a simple combination of sugar, water, lemon juice, and lime juice. It’s also totally adaptable. For this recipe, I swapped honey for the sugar, and freshly squeezed tangerine juice for the lime. I also played with the ratios a bit, adding more tangerine to really let the citrus flavor shine.
Tangerines are just coming into season, and I love them paired with whiskey–my favorite cold weather spirit. It makes these cocktails taste like fall in a glass.
This recipe yields four generous drinks. It’s easy to multiply if you want to serve them for a party. Also, you can make them a few hours in advance and store them in the refrigerator. You can serve them simply over ice, or add a splash of club soda for a little lightness and fizz.
Honey Tangerine Whiskey Sour
This just might be the perfect fall cocktail. Soothing honey; smokey whiskey; and fresh, tart tangerine juice. Best of all, you can make a big batch a few hours in advance!
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup water
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice 2-3 tangerines
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 large lemon
- 1 cup whiskey
- Ice
- 4 strips of tangerine zest
- 4 cherries maraschino or morello
- Club soda optional
Instructions
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Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, and simmer until the honey dissolves. Cool. Transfer the honey mixture to a pitcher and add the tangerine juice, lemon juice, and whiskey. Stir to combine.
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Fill four rocks glasses with ice. Divide cocktails among the glasses and garnish with a strip of tangerine zest and a cherry. Top with club soda, if desired.
Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Wow, this looks amazing; what a gorgeous combination of flavours!
Aaryne @ Just Like Perfect! says
I love this idea! I like to add fresh orange juice in place of the lemons and your idea for tangerines is a good one that I need to try. I too, love whiskey sours and in my early 20’s the version you mentioned was “where it was at”. It wasn’t until I saw an Ina Garten recipe for fresh whiskey sours that I hopped the same bandwagon and am now a convert.
Lucy Baker says
Thanks Aaryne! I was definitely inspired by Ina’s recipe. I made them once before and they were delicious!
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
It is kind of crazy when you think back to the drinks you enjoyed during your younger days. I too wince over the thought of some of those sugar laden drinks. But I can’t say that about this tangerine sour sweetened with a touch of honey. It sounds absolutely heavenly. . .and hurray for citrus season.