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WhatDrink

Cocktails

Gin Sour

Gin Sour is a cocktail made with Gin, Lemon Juice, Sugar, and Orange. It is served in a Whiskey Sour Glass.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic28.4% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

151 kcalCalories
28.4%ABV
2.9gSugar
4.2gCarbs
1.46Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Moderateshaken drink

Why: 5 ingredients, shaken drink, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients & Tools

Tools:Cocktail Shaker

How to Make It

  1. In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, lemon juice, and sugar.Shaken
  2. Shake well.Shaken
  3. Strain into a Sour glass and garnish with the orange slice and the cherry.Strain

How to Serve

Glass
Whiskey Sour Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Cubed ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Serving tips

Serving tips

Serve Gin Sour cold and taste the citrus balance before adding extra sugar. Fresh citrus usually makes the biggest difference. It is commonly matched with seafood, ceviche, salads style pairings.

Taste

What does Gin Sour taste like?

Gin Sour is bright and tart, with citrus carrying much of the first impression. Sweetness and dilution need to balance the sharpness.

Primary flavours

Citrus

Supporting notes

SweetBotanicalHerbalJuniper

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong
BodyLight – Full
SweetnessDry – Sweet
AcidityFlat – Crisp
FruitinessEarthy – Fruity
BoldnessDelicate – Bold
  • High ABV
  • Bright and citrusy
  • Full-bodied

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

When to choose it

How to decide if Gin Sour is right for you

Gin Sour is best when you want brightness and a clean tart edge. Choose it if citrus balance matters more than richness, creaminess or heavy sweetness. The listed serve is about 11.2% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Gin Sour if...

Skip Gin Sour if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

When to serve

  • Seafood DinnerSuggested from its lemon and citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

SeafoodCevicheSalads

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-FreeVeganVegetarian

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Gin2 oz

VodkaKnown variation
How much to use
Use the same volume; expect less juniper and botanical aroma.
What changes
Vodka can replace gin when you want a cleaner, less botanical drink, but it usually changes the cocktail identity.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lemon Juice1 oz

Lime JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the same amount, then adjust sweetness if the drink tastes too sharp.
What changes
Lime juice can usually replace lemon juice, but the drink becomes sharper and more tropical.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Sugar1/2 tsp superfine

Simple SyrupWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Use about 1/4 oz simple syrup per teaspoon of sugar as a starting point.
What changes
Simple syrup can replace sugar, but it also adds water and dissolves more easily.
Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Gin Sour at home?
Yes. The Gin Sour uses 5 ingredients, making it straightforward to prepare at home. You will need a Whiskey Sour Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.