New York Sour (low-calorie)
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 16% ABV ∙
The New York Sour (low-calorie) is bourbon shaken with lemon juice and a sugar-free sweetener syrup, finished with a red wine float. Brisk and tart up front with a crisp spirit backbone, the drink turns velvety as the wine float bleeds slowly into a dry, warming finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Bourbon 45 mlLemon juice 25 mlSugar-free sweetener syrup 15 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 1 dash
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Drizzle Red wine around the surface of the drink
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Pour the red wine float slowly over the back of a spoon so it sits as a distinct layer instead of mixing straight in.
- Shake hard with plenty of ice so the drink is fully chilled before straining, since the wine goes on top rather than into the shake.
- Strain into a glass already packed with fresh ice, not the shaker ice, to keep the drink from turning watery.
History
The New York Sour (low-calorie) is a modern adaptation of the classic New York Sour that swaps the traditional sugar syrup for a sugar-free sweetener to cut calories and carbohydrates, keeping the whiskey, lemon juice, and red wine float intact. No separate creator or bar has been credited for this lightened build; it appears to have emerged simply as a dietary tweak on the standard recipe rather than as a distinct invention with its own documented history.
The New York Sour it adapts is generally traced to Chicago in the 1880s, where bartenders topped a whiskey sour with a float of red wine under names like Continental Sour, Southern Whiskey Sour, and Claret Snap before the "New York Sour" name took hold by the 1910s. The low-calorie version keeps that same red-wine-topped sour structure, differing only in using a sugar-free sweetener in place of sugar syrup.
FAQ
How many calories are in a New York Sour?
This New York Sour has about 132 calories per serving. It uses a sugar-free sweetener syrup in place of regular simple syrup, which keeps the calorie count down while still balancing the lemon juice.
What's in a New York Sour cocktail?
Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, a sugar-free sweetener syrup, and a dash of aromatic bitters, shaken and strained over ice, then topped with a red wine float and a lemon twist.
What is the difference between a sour and a New York Sour?
A basic sour is a spirit shaken with citrus and a sweetener; a New York Sour is that same sour build finished with a red wine float poured over the top. The wine adds a dry, fruity layer that a plain sour does not have.
What's the difference between a Whiskey Sour and a New York Sour?
A New York Sour is a Whiskey Sour with a red wine float added on top. The base of bourbon, lemon juice, and sweetener is the same in both; the wine layer is what sets the New York Sour apart, adding a dry, tannic note to the finish.
What is the best low-calorie cocktail option?
A cocktail made with a sugar-free sweetener in place of regular syrup, like this New York Sour at about 132 calories, is a solid low-calorie option. Choosing spirit-forward drinks with minimal sweetener and skipping sugary mixers generally keeps a cocktail's calorie count down.
