Cocktails

Tequila Sour

Tequila Sour is a cocktail made with Tequila, Lemon, Powdered Sugar, and Cherry. The listed recipe is shaken and served in a Whiskey Sour Glass.

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic29.9% ABV5 ingredients

At a Glance

152 kcalCalories

29.9%ABV

3.3gSugar

4.6gCarbs

1.42Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition. Some ingredient data may be approximate.

These nutrition figures are approximate estimates for this recipe — actual values vary with your exact measures, brands and serving size.

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

2 ozTequilaBase Spirit
Juice of 1/2LemonFruit
1 tspPowdered sugarSweetener
1/2 sliceLemonFruit
1CherryGarnish

How to Make It

Shake tequila, juice of lemon, and powdered sugar with ice and strain into a whiskey Sour glass.Shaken
Add the half-slice of lemon, top with the cherry, and serve.Top

How to Serve

Glass: Whiskey Sour Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice
Method: Shaken

Served Chilled

Taste

What does Tequila Sour taste like?

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

Primary flavours

Citrus Tart

Supporting notes

Sweet Agave Earthy Peppery

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

Variations

Easy ways to adjust Tequila Sour

For a sharper version, increase the citrus slightly. For a rounder version, add a touch more sweetener or use a richer base ingredient, but avoid hiding the fresh acidity.

When to choose it

How to decide if Tequila Sour is right for you

Tequila 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 26.7% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip Tequila Sour if...

Skip Tequila 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.
Taco NightSuggested from its agave and peppery notes.

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

Seafood Ceviche Salads

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-Free Vegan Vegetarian

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

Tequila2 oz

MezcalWorks, but changes the drink

How much to use: Use the same amount; consider reducing smoky or bitter ingredients if the drink becomes intense.
What changes: Mezcal can replace tequila when a smokier, earthier agave profile is welcome.

Vegan-compatibleVegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Powdered Sugar1 tsp

Superfine SugarWorks, with a noticeable change

How much to use: Dissolve well; sweetness may need a small adjustment.
What changes: Superfine sugar can replace powdered sugar in many shaken drinks.