Celery Sour
Dry shake ∙ 5 min ∙ 15.2% ABV ∙
The Celery Sour is a shaken gin sour built on celery dry gin, lemon and pineapple juice, sugar syrup, celery bitters, and egg white. Silky and pale from the egg white, it opens on savory celery and gin botanicals before lemon sharpens it and a faint pineapple sweetness lingers on the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Dry shake (without ice) all ingredients: Celery dry gin 45 mlLemon juice 20 mlPineapple juice 10 mlSugar syrup 10 mlCelery bitters 2 dashesEgg white 15 ml
- Shake again with ice
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a celery stick
Tips
- Dry shake the gin, lemon, pineapple, syrup, bitters and egg white without ice for 15-20 seconds first to build a stable foam, then shake again with ice.
- Shake hard with fresh ice for a full 12-15 seconds after the dry shake so the egg white emulsifies fully and the drink chills and dilutes properly.
- Fine strain into the chilled coupe to catch any ice shards or celery fibre, giving a smooth, tight white foam cap on top.
- Rest a trimmed celery stick against the rim rather than dropping it in, so its raw flavor doesn't overpower the citrus-forward balance.
History
The Celery Sour is a variation on the Gin Sour, part of the broader Sour family of cocktails built from a base spirit, citrus, and a sweetener. Sours belong to the earliest documented cocktail families, described by pioneering bartender Jerry Thomas in his 1862 book, How to Mix Drinks, which laid out the basic formula later applied across spirits. The Gin Sour applies that same template to gin, combining it with lemon juice and sugar, and had become an established, simple classic by the time it appeared in American bartending guides predating Prohibition. The Celery Sour variation departs from that base by introducing celery as a defining flavor element, giving the traditional gin, lemon, and sugar sour a savory, vegetal edge.
FAQ
What is in a Celery Sour?
Celery dry gin, fresh lemon juice, pineapple juice, sugar syrup, celery bitters, and egg white, shaken together and served up. The egg white gives it a silky foam, while the celery bitters and celery-infused gin reinforce each other for a savory edge.
Is a Celery Sour shaken or stirred?
Shaken, not stirred. The egg white, citrus, and syrup all need the vigorous aeration of a shake to build the foam and chill the drink properly; stirring would leave it flat and separated.
What glass is a Celery Sour served in?
A coupe glass, served up and garnished with a celery stick.
Can I make a Celery Sour without egg white?
Yes, though the drink loses its signature silky foam and softer texture. Simply omit the egg white and shake the remaining ingredients hard with ice; the result will be thinner and sharper, closer to a standard citrus sour.
Is a Celery Sour vegetarian?
Yes, this recipe is vegetarian and lactose-free, made with pasteurized egg white rather than any dairy or gelatin-based ingredient. It runs about 162 calories per serving at roughly 15.2% ABV.
