Updated August 2026.
The IBA Whiskey Sour is 45 ml bourbon, 25 ml lemon, and 20 ml sugar syrup (egg white optional). That 45 ml of 40% bourbon is one NIAAA standard drink. Rye is a common bar substitute, not the written grain. Irish and blended Scotch are whiskey, but they make a different sour. 90–100 proof is the working band. This is not a 2022 top-15 tasting.
Related: bourbon for a whiskey sour, amaretto vs whiskey sour.
What the shaker actually needs
| Job | Typical bottles | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IBA bourbon 90–100 | Woodford 90.4, WT 101, Old Forester 100, Buffalo Trace 90 | Holds lemon; 27 CFR 5.143 |
| Rye substitute | Rittenhouse Bonded, WT Rye, Bulleit Rye | Legal whiskey. Spicier sour |
| Budget | Evan Williams Bonded, Beam Bonded | Cheap bourbon |
| Different drink | Jameson, JW Red, amaretto | Not the IBA grain / class |
Four IBA sours at 40% are four drinks from the whiskey. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- IBA Whiskey Sour (fetched 2026): 45 ml bourbon, 25 ml lemon, 20 ml syrup, optional egg white.
- TTB 27 CFR 5.143. NIAAA (December 2025). No invented ranking or MSRP.