If you’re looking for an easy cocktail to serve at your next party, this Whiskey Sour Punch is a great one to try! It’s made with bourbon, frozen lemonade concentrate and sparkling water for a refreshing, fizzy drink with just the right combination of sweet and tart flavors.
I love a good cocktail recipe that doesn’t require a long list of ingredients or a lot of preparation. This one takes just a few minutes to put together, and it makes nine cocktails, so it’s perfect when you’re entertaining.
The frozen lemonade concentrate is the secret to keeping things simple. You get that delicious sweet-and-sour lemon flavor without having to squeeze a bunch of lemons or make a separate simple syrup. Add bourbon and sparkling water, and you’ve got a fun twist on a classic whiskey sour!
Why You’ll Love This Whiskey Sour Punch
- There are only three main ingredients. All you need is bourbon, frozen lemonade concentrate and sparkling water, plus ice and garnishes.
- It’s perfect for parties. The recipe makes nine cocktails, so it’s great for entertaining a group.
- You’ll love that it’s quick and easy to make. There’s no complicated mixing or special cocktail equipment required.
- It’s refreshing and fizzy. The sparkling water adds bubbles and balances the sweet lemonade.
- It’s easy to customize. You can adjust the amount of sparkling water to suit your taste.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this Whiskey Sour Punch!
- Bourbon: Use a bourbon that you enjoy drinking. Since it’s one of the main ingredients, its flavor will come through in the finished cocktail.
- Frozen lemonade concentrate: This is what gives the punch its sweet and tart lemon flavor. Use the concentrate without adding the water called for on the can.
- Ice cubes: Plenty of ice keeps the cocktails nice and cold.
- Sparkling water or club soda: Adds refreshing bubbles and lightens the bourbon-lemonade mixture.
- Maraschino cherries: A classic cocktail garnish that adds a pretty pop of color.
- Fresh lemon slices: Thin lemon slices are the perfect finishing touch.
How to Make Whiskey Sour Punch
This cocktail recipe couldn’t be much easier!
- Make the bourbon mixture: In a large pitcher, combine the bourbon and frozen lemonade concentrate. Stir until the lemonade concentrate has completely dissolved into the bourbon.
- Fill the glasses: Fill nine tall glasses with ice cubes.
- Add the punch: Pour ½ cup of the bourbon-lemonade mixture into each glass. Add ½ cup of sparkling water or club soda and stir gently.
- Garnish and serve: Add a maraschino cherry and a thin lemon slice to each glass. Serve immediately while the cocktails are cold and bubbly!
Recipe Tips
- Use frozen lemonade concentrate, not prepared lemonade. The concentrate provides a stronger lemon flavor and sweetness. If you substitute regular lemonade, the proportions and flavor will be different. Look for frozen concentrate in your market’s freezer section.
- Choose a bourbon you like. You don’t need to use an expensive bourbon, but pick one that tastes good to you.
- Keep everything cold. Chilled bourbon, cold sparkling water and plenty of ice will make the punch especially refreshing.
- Add the sparkling water just before serving. This helps keep the cocktails fizzy instead of allowing the bubbles to disappear while the punch sits.
- Make the bourbon mixture ahead of time. You can combine the bourbon and lemonade concentrate in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. Add the sparkling water when serving.
- Don’t skip the garnishes. The lemon slices and maraschino cherries give these cocktails that classic whiskey sour look.
- Adjust the fizz to your taste. If you prefer a slightly lighter drink, add a little more sparkling water. Keep in mind that this will change the number of servings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Whiskey Sour Punch?
Whiskey Sour Punch is a party-friendly variation of a classic whiskey sour cocktail. This version combines bourbon with frozen lemonade concentrate and sparkling water for a sweet, tart and fizzy drink that’s easy to serve to a group.
What’s the difference between a whiskey sour and Whiskey Sour Punch?
A traditional whiskey sour is usually made with whiskey, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. Some versions also include egg white. This punch uses frozen lemonade concentrate for convenience and sparkling water for a refreshing, bubbly finish.
Can I make Whiskey Sour Punch ahead of time?
Yes! You can combine the bourbon and frozen lemonade concentrate ahead of time and store the mixture covered in the refrigerator. Wait until serving to add the sparkling water so the cocktails stay bubbly.
Can I use club soda instead of sparkling water?
Absolutely. Either sparkling water or club soda works well in this recipe. Choose an unflavored variety so the bourbon and lemon flavors remain the focus.
Can I use regular whiskey instead of bourbon?
Yes. Bourbon gives the punch a slightly sweet, smooth flavor, but another whiskey can be used if that’s what you prefer. The taste will vary depending on the whiskey you choose.
Can I make this punch less strong?
Yes. Add more sparkling water to each glass or use a little less of the bourbon-lemonade mixture. This will create a lighter-tasting cocktail.
Can I serve this in a punch bowl?
Yes! You can combine the bourbon and lemonade concentrate ahead of time, then add the sparkling water right before serving. Add ice to individual glasses to avoid watering down the entire batch.
What should I serve with Whiskey Sour Punch?
This cocktail is great with party appetizers, salty snacks, cheese boards, sliders, grilled foods and other casual entertaining favorites. The tart lemon flavor is especially refreshing alongside rich or savory dishes.
When to Serve Whiskey Sour Punch
This is one of those cocktail recipes that works for all kinds of occasions. It’s refreshing enough for a summer barbecue, easy enough for a casual get-together and convenient when you’re hosting a larger group.
It’s also a fun option for football parties, holiday gatherings and backyard entertaining. Since the bourbon-lemonade mixture can be made ahead of time, you won’t have to spend the whole party mixing individual cocktails.
More Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoy easy cocktails for entertaining, be sure to browse more drink recipes on RecipeGirl.com. Hurricane punch, vodka lemonade and easy pitcher drinks like vodka party punch are always fun to serve when friends and family come over.
This Whiskey Sour Punch is proof that you don’t need a lot of ingredients to make a delicious cocktail! With bourbon, lemonade concentrate and sparkling water, it’s sweet, tart, bubbly and incredibly easy to prepare.
Whether you’re hosting a party or just looking for a new bourbon cocktail to try, this is a fun recipe to keep in your collection!
History of the Whiskey Sour:
The first mention of the Whiskey Sour was in 1862 when Jerry Thomas included a recipe in The Bartender’s Guide. But it’s very likely that it was invented long before.
Because sailors found it difficult to locate fresh water, they brought a variety of spirts on board. And because scurvy was a problem for sailors (caused by a lack of Vitamin C), they brought a bounty of lemons and limes on board with them. So it would make sense that they combined whiskey with lemon and sweetener to create a drink that quenched their thirst and helped fend off scurvy.
In 1872, former ship steward Elliot Staub claims to have invented the Whiskey Sour in a Peruvian bar.
Nowadays, 25% of restaurants include the whiskey sour on their menu.
Whiskey Sour Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups bourbon
- 12 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
- ice cubes
- 4½ cups sparkling water or club soda
- 9 maraschino cherries
- 9 thin lemon slices
Instructions
- In a pitcher, combine the bourbon and lemonade concentrate, stirring until the concentrate dissolves.
- Fill tall glasses with ice. Divide the mixture evenly between 9 glasses. Then add ½ cup sparkling water to each glass; stir. Garnish each cocktail with a cherry and a lemon slice.
Notes
- Use frozen lemonade concentrate without diluting it according to the package directions.
- The bourbon and lemonade mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated. Add the sparkling water just before serving.
- For a lighter cocktail, add additional sparkling water to taste.
- Club soda may be substituted for sparkling water.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
