Crown Royal Redbud Whiskey Sour

Not long ago, we published a recipe for Redbud Cocktail Syrup. This flower infused syrup gets its color and unusual (and tasty) flavor from the blossoms of the eastern redbud tree.

This combination of Crown Royal and Redbud Cocktail Syrup transforms a simple whiskey sour into something special. Images by author

If they are still blooming in your area, make some today. You can use it in all sorts of cocktails in place of simple syrup. I don't know about you, but I always enjoy serving something that came from the outdoors, be it hunted, fished or foraged, to my friends and family. Didn’t catch the redbuds in your area in time to make the syrup this spring? Just make the cocktail with regular simple syrup instead, and make a note to procure some redbuds next spring.

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One of my favorite spring and summer cocktails is the whiskey sour. It’s equal parts lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best) and simple syrup combined with whiskey and served over ice. It’s a refreshing, easy drinker that’s perfect for warm evenings around the campfire or with friends.

A cocktail shaker makes quick work of mixing the ingredients.

It just so happens that Realtree has teamed up with the folks at Crown Royal to put out a limited edition bottle featuring Realtree APX camo on the box and iconic felt bag. That’s all the inspiration we needed to mix up a batch of these Crown Royal Redbud Whiskey Sours.

Crown Royal Fine Deluxe forms the backbone of this classic cocktail.

I like to make my sours in a cocktail shaker over ice. A few good shakes gets everything combined and thoroughly chilled.

Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and give it a few good shakes to blend.

After you have them mixed, pour it into a rocks glass over ice. I like one or two large cubes for the glass so they don’t melt as fast. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker handy, just mix in a glass with ice, then pour it into your rocks glass with a large cube.

Pour the chilled cocktail into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

The recipe is simple. Combine 2 ounces of Crown Royal Fine Deluxe (get the Realtree edition if you can, those camo bags are fire) with ¾ ounce of lemon juice and ¾ ounce of the redbud simple syrup. Give it a shake in a standard cocktail shaker and pour.

A good sour is light and refreshing, not heavy, and it drinks easily. This one is perfect. If you are feeling really festive, garnish with a nice cocktail cherry or an orange slice.

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