Whiskey Sour Slushy Recipe

By Max Falkowitz
Updated April 15, 2020
whiskey sour slushy
Photograph: Max Falkowitz

This is a basic recipe to modify to your tastes. The slushy base as written is mostly a tart lemon slush with a faint boozy kick. You can then stir in additional whiskey per serving to your taste—as high as 50/50 whiskey and slush if you like.

For an additional layer of flavor and sweetness, line the bottom of your serving cup or bowl with a spoonful of the accompanying red wine syrup, which will make your slushy the frozen approximation of a New York sour. Use any wine you like, but sweeter and less oaked are ideal.

If whiskey isn't to your taste, you can follow this procedure with gin. Or use light rum and swap lime juice for the lemons for a homemade slushy daiquiri.

Recipe Details

Whiskey Sour Slushy Recipe

Active 60 mins
Total 0 mins
Makes 1 quart

Ingredients

  • For the Slushy Base:
  • 1 1/4 cup lemon juice from 8 to 10 lemons
  • 1 1/2 cups filtered or bottled water
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • 7 tablespoons bourbon or rye, plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest from 1 to 2 lemons
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • For the Red Wine Syrup:
  • 1 1/2 cups red wine (see note)
  • 3/4 cup sugar

Directions

  1. For the Slushy Base: In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, water, corn syrup, whiskey, lemon zest, and salt until very well combined. Transfer to freezer and chill until very cold, about 1 1/2 hours.

  2. Transfer chilled base into ice cream maker and churn until base looks like a soft sorbet without visible liquid pooling at the top. A spoon pressed against the base should leave a clear indentation once removed. Transfer churned base to an airtight container and chill in freezer until ready to serve.

  3. For the Red Wine Syrup: In a small saucepan, whisk together wine and sugar over high heat. Once all sugar is dissolved, let wine boil until it reduces in volume by half, bubbles begin to stack on each other, and the syrup reads 222°F on a candy thermometer. Transfer to a small container and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

    red wine syrup

  4. To Assemble: Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of wine syrup in the bottom of each bowl or cup. Scoop about 1/2 cup slushy base into a small work bowl, then stir in additional whiskey to each person's taste. Slushy base will remain semi-solid even with a generous amount of added alcohol. Serve with a spoon or a thick straw.

    You can also mix each slushy directly in its bowl or glass and then top with the syrup, but the presentation won't look quite as neat.

Special equipment

Ice cream maker

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