If you’ve never tried a rhubarb sour, you need to. These beautful pink drinks have a sweet and tart flavor that’s so refreshing. Plus they feel super fancy but are easy to make!
Cheers to these rhubarb sour cocktails, perfect for summer sipping.
This rhubarb sour cocktail recipe is perfect if you want to make a statement without making a fuss. It’s elegant and luxurious, but so simple to make.
It’s based on a classic sour cocktail, but with a little extra oomph from homemade rhubarb syrup.
Let me tell you: this thing is delicious! It has that nice tartness from lemon juice and rhubarb syrup, but then it finishes with a touch of sweetness.
Egg white (or aquafaba–it’s your choice) makes this classy cocktail rich and frothy.
You’ll love this rhubarb cocktail recipe if you like:
- Rhubarb. This tangy vegetable is a perfect complement to the earthy taste of gin and citrus.
- Fruity summer drinks. There’s nothing like a cool, refreshing drink on a hot day!
- Simple recipes that don’t require too much time or effort, but still pack an impressive punch and feel really fancy.
What is a sour cocktail?
A sour is an old-school cocktail that dates back to the 1800s. They were originally made with gin, lemon or lime juice and sugar. You can find all sorts of variations, from daiquiris and mojitos to the classic pisco sour.
Whipped egg whites can be added to add a frothy, meringue-like head that gives these cocktails a fantastic mouthfeel.
Sours were popular in the 1940s but are still delicious today. If you like margaritas, chances are you’ll love a sour!
What you’ll need to make a rhubarb gin sour:
For this spin on the classic sour, I use my homemade rhubarb syrup in place of some of the citrus juice and sugar. To make this delicious recipe, you’ll need:
Gin: The sweetness of the rhubarb syrup is a perfect complement to the botanical flavor of gin. If you’re not a fan, you can make this with vodka instead.
Fresh Lemon Juice: The lemon juice plays double duty as both a complement to the rhubarb and as the main souring ingredient to help balance out the sugar. I definitely recommend using fresh lemon juice for this cocktail!
Handy tip for juicing lemons
To get the maximum amount of juice possible from your lemon, pop it into the microwave for 5 seconds, then roll it on the counter, pressing firmly. This will rupture the cells walls, allowing you to easily extract every drop of juice. If you have more than you need, freeze the leftovers to use in another recipe!
Rhubarb Syrup: A splash of homemade syrup made from fresh rhubarb is all you need to add plenty of flavor. Don’t worry, it’s super simple to make!
Egg white or aquafaba (optional): Shaking your cocktail with egg white thickens it and gives it a rich, velvety texture. If raw egg freaks you out (I get it!) you can use aquafaba– the thick liquid from a can of beans.
How to make a rhubarb sour
Start by doing a dry shake with your egg white or aquafaba. What’s that? A dry shake is when you add an ingredient to your cocktail shaker without ice. Shaking the egg white (or aquafaba, if you prefer) before adding the rest of the ingredients will give it a chance to thicken up like a meringue. This base is what gives these cocktails their rich and creamy texture.
Once your egg white is frothy, you can add your gin, rhubarb syrup, and lemon juice. Top it off with ice and shake hard for 30-40 seconds.
Finally, strain your drink into a cocktail glass. I love using a coupe-style glass for these!
Sit back and enjoy!
More Easy Summer Cocktails
- Margarita Ice Cubes
- 3 Ingredient Blackberry Gin Cocktails
- Blackberry Mojito
- Fig Bees Knees
- Basil Ginger Gin Fizz
Rhubarb Sour
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large egg white or 2 tablespoons aquafaba
- 4 ounces gin
- 1 ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ ounce rhubarb simple syrup
Instructions
- Add the egg white or aquafaba to a dry cocktail shaker. Cover and shake vigorously for 30-40 seconds, until the egg white is foamy.
- Pour in the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill the cocktail shaker 3/4 of the way with ice. Cover and shake for another 30-40 seconds, until thoroughly chilled.
- Strain your beverage into two cocktail glasses and enjoy responsibly.
