4 Ingredient Rhubarb Sour Cocktail

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Last Updated on June 26, 2023 by Leah Hall

This Rhubarb Sour Cocktail is a perfect summer cocktail!

With the hottest days of summer approaching, we harvested the last tender stalks of a rhubarb plant. We decided that we would use some of the stalks to make up a rhubarb simple syrup that would be a nice sweet and tart option for our cocktails. The end of spring and early summer is the perfect time of the year for this cocktail, and many other rhubarb cocktails like our Rhubarb Gimlet or Rhubarb Collins, too!

This Rhubarb Sour Cocktail adds a tart flavor twist to the classic gin sour cocktail. Made with gin, lemon juice, egg white, and homemade rhubarb syrup, this cocktail is sure to become a new spring favorite. Try another spring sip with our Lilac Gin Sour!

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The Gin Sour cocktail is a classic for a reason. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and sour with a creamy element from the egg white (which is an optional ingredient). We added a spin on this classic by adding some fresh rhubarb syrup in place of the usual simple syrup or sugar. It creates a unique and delicious flavor combination that is perfect with gin.

What is a Sour Cocktail? 

A sour is an old-school cocktail recipe 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 They were originally made with gin, lemon or lime juice and sugar.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. Sours were super popular beginning in the 1940s and are still delicious today. If you like a margarita, we think you will love a sour cocktail!

It is your choice whether you add egg whites to a sour cocktail. Egg white can add a frothy, almost meringue-like topping that gives cocktails a decadent mouthfeel. 

What Ingredients are Needed in a Gin Sour Cocktail?

• Lemon Juice – lemon juice plays double duty as a flavor component to the rhubarb and as the main sour ingredient to balance out the sugar. We definitely recommend using fresh lemon juice for this cocktail!
• Egg White – the addition of egg whites give it a luscious mouthfeel, a foam at first sip and believe it or not, a bit of protein. Shaking your cocktail with egg white thickens it and gives it a rich, velvety texture. If raw egg freaks you out (we get it!) you can use aquafaba, which is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. 
• London Dry Gin – The sweetness of the rhubarb simple syrup is a delicious complement to the botanical flavor of a London Dry gin. If you’re not a fan of gin, feel free to make this with vodka instead. 
• Rhubarb Simple Syrup – This tangy vegetable is a perfect complement to the earthy taste of gin and citrus. A splash of homemade rhubarb syrup made from fresh rhubarb is all you need to add plenty of flavor.

With the fresh rhubarb syrup, we decided to try out this recipe that would be quick and simple and pay a bit of an homage to an often forgotten classic, the gin sour.

How to Make A Rhubarb Gin Sour Cocktail

• Combine Ingredients – Pour all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and dry shake (this means with no ice).
• Shake – Add a handful of ice to the shaker and shake again until everything is nice and cold.
• Strain – Pour out through a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer into your favorite cocktail glass.
• Garnish – with a lemon peel, a fresh sprig of mint or a rhubarb ribbon.

What Gin to Use

The traditional Gin Sour Cocktail recipe calls for a London Dry Gin. Because this drink has a fresh garden element from the rhubarb syrup, we would suggest using a London Dry Gin like Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Sipsmith or Ford’s. There are so many different varieties of gin out there and you can certainly use whatever gin you prefer. Any gin will be delicious in this drink, as the rhubarb will shine!

If You Are Looking for More Egg White Cocktails, Try These!

• Monk’s Muse
• T & T Sour
• Cherry Vanilla Whiskey Sour
• Holiday Ginger Flip
• Aronia Sour
• Grapefruit Bourbon Sour
• Cherry Toasted Cream Ramos Gin Fizz
• Clover Club
• Raspberry Peach Ramos Gin Fizz
• Bourbon Peach Sour

Rhubarb Syrup

We already have a recipe done for you for this, so make sure to read over our homemade rhubarb simple syrup post! But simply you combine sliced rhubarb with water and sugar in a saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Then, let it sit to infuse for at least 15 minutes. Then, strain and cool to room temperature. Finally, use it in this cocktail!

Egg White Alternative

If you practice safe food handling while making your sour cocktail, it is very safe to have egg whites in your cocktails. The danger of salmonella comes from bacteria that may have been on the outside of the eggshell.

An alternative to using egg whites in cocktails is to substitute aquafaba. Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas. It is gluten free, dairy free and vegan. It’s a great alternative for people with egg allergies, too. The rules is to substitute 1-2 tablespoons of aquafaba per 1 egg white.

But, you don’t have to add egg white to this cocktail. We like the foam and it makes this cocktail pretty.

Combining a tart sweetness with a citrus burst, the rhubarb sour is a great drink for the hot summer evenings.

If you want to try another sour cocktail, try our Lilac Gin Sour! Or, another rhubarb cocktail made with our Rhubarb Infused Vodka, the Rhubarb Collins!

Cheers!

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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!

Strawberry Rhubarb Daiquiri Float

Rhubasil Cocktail

Other Rhubarb Cocktails

• Rhubarb Pisco Sour – My Kitchen Love
• Rhubarb Champagne – Champagne Tastes

Other London Dry Gin Cocktails

• Cucumber Gimlet – Genius Kitchen
• Gin Mint Julep – Southern Fatty
• Grapefruit Gin & Tonic – Food and Style
• Blood Orange Elderflower Gin – The Little Epicurean

Continue to Content

Yield: 1

Rhubarb Sour

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

A fabulous 4 ingredient cocktail with the bitter sweet bite of rhubarb and gin, as well as lemon and an egg white!

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Ingredients

Rhubarb Sour

• 2 ounces London Dry Gin
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 ounce Rhubarb Simple Syrup
• 1 egg white

Instructions

For the Cocktail

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

Dry shake (no ice) for 20 seconds.

Add ice and shake for 30 seconds.

Double strain into a rocks glass or cocktail coupe.

Cheers!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Cuisinart CTG-00-3MS Set of 3 Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers
• 
  A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer for Cocktails
• 
  Taylor'd Milestones Whiskey Glass, Premium 10 oz Scotch Glasses, Set of 2 Rocks Style Glassware for Bourbon and Old Fashioned Cocktails

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 288Total Fat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 56.8gFiber: 0.1gSugar: 56.8gProtein: 3.8g

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