Celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day at the Barbershop

The Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once said that “Whiskey is liquid sunshine.” At the Barbershop, we couldn’t agree more and look for every reason to celebrate its existence. That’s why we’re looking forward to one of our favorite days of the entire year – National Whiskey Sour Day.

National Whiskey Sour Day happens every year on August 25^th, which just happens to be the perfect time to sit back and enjoy a late summer day with one of America’s favorite cocktails in hand. Of course, you want to celebrate this special day at the best Whiskey bar in Vegas, so we’re expecting you to find your way through our speakeasy entrance and into “THE” place to enjoy some of the finest whiskey around.

Before we start going on about the uber impressive selection of whiskeys at the Barbershop, let’s take a bit of a detour and talk about the star guest of honor on National Whiskey Sour Day.

History of the Whiskey Sour

If there were a way to travel back into time and be cozied up to the bar where the whiskey sour was invented, we’d be there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, as of yet no time travel machine exists and that means that the true history of some of our favorite drinks remains a little muddled.

No one can say for sure when some mixology genius came up with the idea of combining a bit of sour with the smooth bite of whiskey, but we can say that we’re happy they did. The earliest known sightings of the whiskey sour can be found in the 1862 edition of the Bartender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas. That said, it was pretty widely accepted that the basic formula of the whiskey sour was in existence, and widely enjoyed, long before it made its way into print.

As with most things, trends in mixology tend to sway back and forth. For years, the whiskey sour held its spot as star of the show but was then replaced by more complex drinks that blended unique flavors together to create an entirely new generation of cocktails. Needless to say, the whiskey sour took a back seat but not for long.

Fast forward to today, where everything classic is new and trendy once again. Personally, we’d argue that the whiskey sour never went out of style but that point is neither here nor there at the moment. All that matters is that you take some time out of your day on August 25^th to relax and enjoy what is arguably one of the smoothest, most drinkable cocktails in the world.

The Classic Whiskey Sour

Honestly, if you walk into any ordinary bar and order a whiskey sour, you never really know what to expect. Many bars today forgo the craft of mixology and keep it simple by combining whiskey, premade sour mix and a splash of soda. This version might hit your sweet tooth just right, but it doesn’t do much for letting the true character of the whiskey shine through.

The first, classic recipe for the whiskey sour looked very different. According to that first publication in 1862, the whiskey sour was made using very simple ingredients, which included powdered sugar that had been dissolved in seltzer, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and of course – the whiskey.

Today, the classic version looks a little different. The whiskey and lemon juice is still there, but the powdered sugar has been replaced with just touch of simple syrup to add just the right amount of sweetness. The modern classic also uses egg white, although many drinking establishments will skip that step. Finally, you can’t have a whiskey sour without it being garnished with a cherry and lemon on top.

The Barbershop Is Not Your Ordinary Bar

If you walk into the Barbershop on National Whiskey Sour Day, can you order a classic whiskey sour? Of course, you can. However, our expert mixologist might suggest you try something new that takes the whiskey sour experience to an entirely different level. Like the Breakfast Mash, which holds a premier spot on our spiked juices menu.

The Breakfast Mash is the whiskey sour all grown up. A true Barbershop exclusive, our mixology masters combine Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and then add the surprising touches of orange marmalade and maple syrup. The result is a drink that resembles the whiskey sour in terms of a perfectly tart balance but is elevated by blending ingredients that bring out all the subtle, delicious undertones of the whiskey. Trust us when we say the Breakfast Mash is going to be your new favorite way to celebrate National Whiskey Sour Day.

Join the Barbershop for National Whiskey Sour Day

You want to do the whiskey sour justice on its big day, don’t you? That’s why you’re not going to wander into any bar but instead find your way into the hottest whiskey bar in Vegas. With our selection of whiskey, we guarantee you’ll find the perfect sip to celebrate one of our favorite days of the year. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate with us and RSVP at the Barbershop today.