IBA
Trinidad Sour – IBA
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 19.4% ABV ∙
The Trinidad Sour is built backwards: Angostura bitters as the base spirit, with orgeat, lemon and a small measure of rye whiskey. Deep spiced bitterness settles into a nutty, silky body, with bright citrus lift and a warming, low-proof finish that lingers long after the last sip.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake: Angostura aromatic bitters 45 mlOrgeat (almond) syrup 30 mlLemon juice 22 mlRye whiskey 15 ml
- Strain into the chilled cocktail glass
Tips
- Measure the Angostura carefully — it is the drink's base in this build, not an accent, so an uneven pour throws off the whole balance.
- Shake hard and briefly with plenty of ice; the orgeat is thick and needs the agitation to fully integrate before straining.
- Pre-chill the cocktail glass so the drink stays cold longer once strained, since it goes up with no ice.
History
The Trinidad Sour was created by bartender Giuseppe Gonzalez while working at the Clover Club in Brooklyn, New York. He introduced it in a 2009 cocktail competition, where its unconventional build using Angostura aromatic bitters as the base rather than as a mere accent flavor caused it to be poorly received, failing to place in the contest's top ten. Despite that rocky debut, the drink gradually won over bartenders and drinkers for its unusual structure, eventually becoming recognized as a modern classic and entering the International Bartenders Association's official cocktail list in the 2020 update.
FAQ
How do you make a Trinidad Sour?
Shake Angostura aromatic bitters, orgeat syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a small amount of rye whiskey together with ice, then strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. The bitters function as the base spirit here rather than a seasoning, which is what makes the build unusual among sours.
What is a Trinidad Sour?
It is an IBA-recognized sour that inverts the usual spirit-to-bitters ratio, using a large measure of Angostura aromatic bitters as its base alongside orgeat, lemon juice, and just a splash of rye whiskey. Shaken and strained up into a cocktail glass, it reads spiced and bittersweet rather than boozy.
What is an IBA cocktail?
An IBA cocktail is one included on the International Bartenders Association's official list of recognized recipes, used as a global reference standard for bartenders. The Trinidad Sour holds this status as a modern addition to that list.
Is the Trinidad Sour a strong drink?
It drinks lighter than its ABV of about 19.4% might suggest, since the large volume of bitters and orgeat mutes the alcohol's presence rather than showcasing it. Only a small measure of rye whiskey is added on top of the bitters base, so the spice and sweetness dominate over any burn.
