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Burnt Whiskey Sours

By Joe Gitter

Published on May 26, 2023

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Burnt Whiskey Sours

Ingredients

2 lemons (1 halved, 1 sliced thin)6 rosemary sprigs 1 ounce simple syrup 4 ounces rye whiskey

Before You Begin

This recipe was developed for our book The Outdoor CookTennessee whiskey or bourbon also works well here (decrease the simple syrup to ½ ounce). To make the simple syrup, whisk ¼ cup water and 6 tablespoons sugar in a bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Leftover syrup can be refrigerated for up to one month.

Instructions

  1. FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over half of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burn on high and turn off other burner(s).
  2.  Clean and oil cooking grate. Grill lemon halves cut sides down, lemon slices, and ­rosemary (covered if using gas), turning as needed, until well charred, 3 to 6 minutes. Transfer lemon and rosemary to plate as they finish cooking. Squeeze 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) juice from lemon halves. Add 2 lemon slices, 4 rosemary springs, and simple syrup to base of cocktail shaker and muddle until broken down and all juice has been expressed, about 30 seconds.
  3. Add rye and lemon juice to shaker, then fill with ice. Shake ­mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain cocktail into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with remaining 2 rosemary sprigs and lemon slices. Serve.
Burnt Whiskey Sours
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Gina McCreadie.

Burnt Whiskey Sours

Save

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 lemons (1 halved, 1 sliced thin)
6 rosemary sprigs
1 ounce simple syrup
4 ounces rye whiskey

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 lemons (1 halved, 1 sliced thin)
6 rosemary sprigs
1 ounce simple syrup
4 ounces rye whiskey

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 lemons (1 halved, 1 sliced thin)
6 rosemary sprigs
1 ounce simple syrup
4 ounces rye whiskey

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Grilling lemons caramelizes their sugars while softening their acidity. Squeezing the juice from grilled halves and muddling grilled slices builds complex citrus flavor. Charred rosemary sprigs add woodsy notes and make a rustic garnish.

Before You Begin

This recipe was developed for our book The Outdoor CookTennessee whiskey or bourbon also works well here (decrease the simple syrup to ½ ounce). To make the simple syrup, whisk ¼ cup water and 6 tablespoons sugar in a bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Leftover syrup can be refrigerated for up to one month.

Instructions

  1. FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter filled with charcoal briquettes (6 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over half of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burn on high and turn off other burner(s).
  2.  Clean and oil cooking grate. Grill lemon halves cut sides down, lemon slices, and ­rosemary (covered if using gas), turning as needed, until well charred, 3 to 6 minutes. Transfer lemon and rosemary to plate as they finish cooking. Squeeze 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) juice from lemon halves. Add 2 lemon slices, 4 rosemary springs, and simple syrup to base of cocktail shaker and muddle until broken down and all juice has been expressed, about 30 seconds.
  3. Add rye and lemon juice to shaker, then fill with ice. Shake ­mixture until fully combined and well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain cocktail into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with remaining 2 rosemary sprigs and lemon slices. Serve.

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