The Cocktail Genius Behind the Naked and Famous Just Launched a Ready-to-Drink Whiskey Sour
The recipe for a classic whiskey sour is no secret–it generally calls for whiskey, lemon juice and sugar. But the version of the recipe that ready-to-drink cocktail brand On The Rocks just added to its permanent portfolio includes an unexpected ingredient: orange cordial.
This was the idea of Joaquín Simó, the brand’s ambassador and one of the best bartenders in the world. He was named American Bartender of the Year at the 2011 Tales of the Cocktail conference and is the creator of modern classics, like the Naked and Famous and the Kingston Negroni.
When he was working behind the bar in New York, he would make an orange cordial out of the leftover orange peels. “I'd always done a whiskey sour with a little bit of orange cordial because craft cocktail bars go through a lot of orange peels and we’d have a lot of oranges left over that we didn't know what to do with,” he says.
Courtesy On the Rocks
This cocktail not only the first time Simó has been in charge of the flavor development of a On The Rocks release, but it’s also the first time Jim Beam Bourbon has been used in one the brand’s products.
“Bourbon is a very complex product. I think that can turn people off at first since there's so much going on,” says Freddie Noe, 8th generation master distiller for the James B. Beam Distilling Company. “But I think the whiskey sour is a cocktail that turns a lot of people on to whiskey. So, when the idea came up and I got to hear Joaquín's vision, it just fit.”
On The Rocks Whiskey Sour Tasting Notes
I found that the new On The Rocks Whiskey Sour delivers Jim Beam Bourbon’s signature caramel and vanilla profile with added notes of lemon, orange marmalade, and baking spice, which round out the cocktail.
Related: What Happens When Bourbon Is Made With a Nearly Extinct Corn
How to Serve the On the Rocks Whiskey Sour
To serve, the brand recommends pouring the drink over ice and garnishing it with an orange wheel and a skewered Maraschino cherry. Additionally, Simó suggests you shake the concoction with an egg white or some aquafaba to give it an extra creamy texture. If doing so, though, make sure to dry shake it first (with no ice) to fully incorporate the protein before shaking it again with ice to chill it down.
On The Rocks Whiskey Sour Price & Availability
On The Rocks Whiskey Sour is now available at retailers nationwide in both 375 ml and 750 ml bottles, and priced at $13 and $25, respectively.