Love a cocktail with range? This one brings all five tastes to the party.
About the cocktail
There may be five basic tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami – but cocktails don’t usually have them all. Our Miso Maple Whiskey Sour, however, set out to change that. If you’ve ever had a classic Whiskey Sour, you’ll have an idea of what to expect here. This cocktail is, as its name suggests, a little sour (thanks to lemon juice), but it’s also a little sweet. Our miso maple version raises the stakes by adding a touch of miso paste for a salty umami kick, while a torched sugar topping brings a subtle bittersweet note. The result is a full-spectrum flavour profile that’s unique but somehow also very familiar. Sure, some might baulk at the prospect of miso in a cocktail, but it really is a subtle addition (just a quarter of a teaspoon) that helps bring out the rich sweetness of maple syrup and bourbon – sort of like those brown-butter miso choc-chip cookies doing the rounds right now. In the glass, the Miso Maple Whiskey Sour is about subtlety and balance, using all five basic tastes to make a cocktail that feels full-flavoured, interesting and, most importantly, completely delicious. We can see this slotting in as the ideal Sour for winter, thanks to those comforting ingredients like maple syrup, cream and burnt sugar. But you could easily lean into the richness and call this a standalone dessert – maybe with some of those slightly salty choc-chip cookies on the side?
Ingredients
50mL bourbon ¼ tsp miso paste 15mL maple syrup 10mL full cream 15mL lemon juice 1 egg white Garnish: burnt sugar (see method) or orange zest Glass: rocks
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker Dry shake – without ice – hard Add ice and shake again Fine strain into your glass Garnish with a light dusting of sugar on top, and evenly caramelise it with a blowtorch until browned. Alternatively, finish simply with grated orange zest on top
Dan’s top tips
This cocktail is all about subtlety and balance, so when it comes to using miso, less is more. Regardless, if you fancy taking this cocktail’s complex flavours in one direction (say, extra salty or less sour) then you should definitely go for it – but only after trying the written recipe first. Make this first, then tweak as needed. The subtle bitterness in this cocktail comes from a topping of caramelised sugar. You can avoid the whole scenario by subbing the sugar for orange peel but, if you do want that crackly sweetness on top, make sure you wave the blowtorch flame evenly across the whole cocktail. In the words of our cocktail gurus: “Always take care with fire, but definitely use it because it's awesome.” And a final tip on the use of egg white – dry shaking all the ingredients (without ice) helps churn the egg white into a silky froth, so don’t skip that step. And if you’re keen to avoid the egg but still want a frothy top, sub in 25-30mL of a vegan alternative like aquafaba.
Member Offer
$67 per bottle Non-Member: $77.99 Each
What is the difference between a Whiskey Sour and the Miso Maple Whiskey Sour?
A classic Whiskey Sour is a mix of whiskey (usually bourbon), lemon juice, sugar syrup and (optionally) egg white. Our Miso Maple Whiskey Sour replaces sugar syrup with maple syrup while adding miso, cream and a burnt sugar topping.
Can I make the Miso Maple Whiskey Sour without egg white?
Yes, you can leave out egg white if you wish but, if you want to get the same froth, sub it for a vegan alternative like aquafaba.
- What is the best bourbon to use in the Miso Maple Whiskey Sour?
With so many complex flavours here, any bourbon will work nicely. If you have a favourite or one already at home, feel free to use that.
