This Sherry Sour Cocktail is a smooth, elegant mixed drink with a creamy foam from egg white, bright acidity from fresh lemon juice, and gentle sweetness from homemade sugar syrup. Combined with dry Spanish sherry, it becomes a refreshing cocktail that makes a lovely signature drink for dinner parties, celebrations, or a relaxed evening at home.
Sherry is a Spanish wine that deserves more attention than it often gets. It was especially popular in the 1970s, when serving sherry or adding it to soup was considered stylish. Today, it is sometimes overlooked, which is a pity because sherry has a distinctive character and a wide range of flavors.
This beautiful wine comes from the Marco de Jerez region in Spain and is known for its unique taste. Depending on the type, sherry can be fresh and dry, nutty and rounded, or rich and sweet. That variety makes it surprisingly versatile, both in the kitchen and in cocktails.
Several styles of sherry are commonly used for serving with food. Fino and Manzanilla are fresh, dry choices that pair well with fish and shellfish. Amontillado and Palo Cortado are often delicious with poultry, while Oloroso is a good match for many meat dishes. Cream sherry and Pedro Ximénez are sweeter options and are especially tasty with chocolate desserts.
The ideal flavor
For this Sherry Sour Cocktail, a fresh and dry sherry works best. It gives the drink a refined base without making it too heavy or too sweet. The lemon juice adds brightness, the sugar syrup balances the acidity, and the egg white creates the soft, velvety foam that makes a sour cocktail so appealing.
The method is simple. First, make a quick sugar syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool before using it in the cocktail. Then shake the sherry, lemon juice, pasteurized egg white, sugar syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker for about one minute. This gives the drink its chilled, creamy texture and a beautiful foam layer.
Serve the cocktail immediately in chilled glasses. Cooling the glasses in the fridge helps the drink stay cold for longer and makes the presentation feel extra special. This cocktail is easy to prepare, but it tastes elegant enough to serve as a welcome drink or a signature cocktail with a dinner menu.
If you enjoy cocktails that are balanced rather than overly sweet, this sour sherry cocktail is a wonderful choice. It has freshness, a light sweetness, and a smooth finish, while still allowing the flavor of the sherry to come through. Cheers!
Did you make this delicious Sherry Sour Cocktail? Share your creation and let others know how it turned out. Your feedback helps other home cooks decide whether this cocktail is right for their next dinner, party, or special occasion.
Need more inspiration?
- Try this cocktail as a dinner drink when you want something creamy, citrusy, and refreshing.
- Save the recipe so you can easily make it again the next time you want a simple sherry cocktail.
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Equipment
-
Cocktail shaker
-
Cocktail glass
Recipe Help
Read through the full recipe before starting. Prepare the sugar syrup first so it has time to cool, and chill the cocktail glasses before shaking the drink for the best result.
Ingredients
Sugar syrup
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
Sour sherry cocktail
- ½ cup sherry
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 egg white, pasteurized
- 3 tablespoons sugar syrup
- ice, for shaking
This recipe is written in US Customary measurements.
Instructions
Sugar syrup
-
Put the sugar and water in a small pan. Warm over low heat while stirring until the sugar starts to dissolve.
-
When the sugar has fully dissolved, turn off the heat and let the syrup cool completely before using it in the cocktail.
Sour sherry cocktail
-
Chill the cocktail glasses in the fridge so the drink stays cold for longer after serving.
-
Add ice, sherry, lemon juice, pasteurized egg white, and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker.
-
Shake firmly for 1 minute, or until the cocktail is well chilled and a creamy foam layer has formed.
-
Pour the cocktail through the shaker strainer into the chilled glasses. Serve immediately so the drink stays fresh, cold, and foamy.
Notes
- This recipe makes more sugar syrup than you need for two cocktails. Making a smaller amount can cause the syrup to become too thick or solid after heating. Use the remaining syrup for another cocktail, or keep it until you make this drink again. It will last for at least one week.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 26g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 1g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
Sodium: 46mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 23g
Vitamin A: 2IU
Vitamin C: 12mg
Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!