How to Make a Sumac Sour

When it comes time to whip up drinks at home, it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget to have fun with it — it's called a ‘spirit’ for a reason people! But I'm here to change that.

Making drinks at home doesn’t need to be boring or overcomplicated. I’ve explained that creating delicious drinks at home only requires a few staple ingredients on your bar cart. With a few essentials and base knowledge in your back pocket, you have the blueprint to get creative with new flavors. I’m showing you how true this is while putting a fun twist on one of my favorite drinks.

We’re making a Sumac Sour!

You’re probably wondering what a ‘sour’ actually means. Well, sours are mixed drinks usually containing a base liquor, acid (lemon/ lime), and a sweetener. Many of the cocktails you know and love, such as a margarita are actually sours. 

My favorite part about this drink is the (optional) frothy egg white. Egg whites are a common accompaniment to sours and they really add an extra silky and foamy layer. The acidity from the citrus actually cooks the eggs during our initial dry shake (without ice) making it safe to eat #science!

You may be asking yourself, what is sumac?!… well I’m glad you asked! Sumac is a berry that grows in the wild and is super common in middle eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. It has tangy and bright notes, similar to lemon, and a beautiful pink color. The sumac might feel unexpected, but it's actually a really accessible spice that highlights all of the amazing botanicals found in Gin. If you’re looking for an easy way to take your mixed drink to the next level, this one for you!

Sumac Sour

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces gin

• 1 egg white

• 1/2 teaspoon sumac

• 1 ounce lemon juice

• 1/4 teaspoon agave

Steps:

Combine gin, egg white, sumac, lemon juice, and agave in a cocktail shaker. Close the top and shake vigorously to combine, about 15 seconds. (This is a dry shake, without ice, in order to cook the egg white and develop foam.)

Add ice to the shaker, close, and shake again until the shaker is very cold (30 seconds-1 minute).

Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with additional sumac. Enjoy!