Sour cocktails lead with bright acidity — fresh citrus, usually lemon or lime, balanced by a touch of sweetness over a base spirit. Many are built on the classic sour template, but the taste cuts across families, from crisp shaken drinks to long, fizzy refreshers. They run from classics like the Whiskey Sour, Daiquiri and Margarita to modern variations on the formula.
See the classic sour template & its variations →
Amaretto Sour
Amaretto liqueur

Amaretto Sour (Jeffrey Morgenthaler recipe)
Bourbon, Amaretto liqueur

Aviation Cocktail (Savoy recipe)
London dry gin

Batanga
Tequila blanco

Bee's Knees
London dry gin

Bee's Knees – IBA
London dry gin

Bramble
London dry gin

Caipirinha
Cachaça

Celery Gimlet
Celery dry gin

Clover Club – IBA
London dry gin

Cosmopolitan Cocktail (1934 recipe)
London dry gin

Daiquiri
White rum

Final Ward
Rye whiskey, Herbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse), Maraschino liqueur

Gimlet
London dry gin

Gin Basil Smash (low-calorie)
London dry gin

Italian Mezcal Margarita
Tequila reposado

Last Word
London dry gin

Last Word – IBA
London dry gin, Herbal liqueur (e.g., Green Chartreuse), Maraschino liqueur

Mango Vodka Sour
Mango vodka, Mango liqueur

Maraschino Daiquiri
Light gold rum

Margarita
Tequila blanco

Mojito (Cuban-style)
White rum

Old Cuban
Prosecco extra dry, Jamaican aged rum

Old Cuban Highball
Caribbean aged rum, Dry sparkling wine