Stockholm Sour Cocktail Recipe

RECIPE BY: RICARDO DYNAN
WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Stockholm Sour puts a Scandinavian twist on the classic New York Sour, swapping rye whiskey for Swedish vodka. It’s similar to a classic Vodka Sour, however, the signature red wine float from the New York Sour adds a sweet complexity, making this drink uniquely its own.

Your new favorite sour cocktail? Who knows, it could just be!

How To Make a Stockholm Sour

What You’ll Need

• Paring Knife (for the Lemon)
• Citrus Press (or Citrus Elbow)
• Fine Mesh Strainer (for the Lemon)
• Glass Jug
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
• Cocktail Shaker
• Cup or Glass (for Egg Whites)
• Hawthorne Strainer
• Rocks Glass
• Bar Spoon

How to Mix

1. Cut a Lemon in half and use a Citrus Press to extract the juice.
2. Use a Fine Mesh Strainer to strain the Lemon Juice into a Glass Jug.
3. Use a Jigger to measure and pour the Lemon Juice into a Cocktail Shaker.
4. Measure and pour Rich Syrup into the Shaker, followed by Absolut Vodka.
5. Add a dash of Aromatic Bitters.
6. Crack an Egg and separate the Egg Whites from the Yolk, placing the Egg Whites into a Glass or Cup.
7. Fill the Shaker with Ice Cubes and shake until chilled.
8. Place a Hawthorne Strainer over the Cocktail Shaker to strain out the Ice.
9. Place one large Ice piece into a Rocks Glass.
10.  Shake again and pour the mixture directly into a Rock Glass.
11. Use the back of a Bar Spoon to carefully pour Claret directly into the Glass to create a red layer.
12. Take a Peeler and peel a Lemon strip, then press it over your drink to release the oils before placing it gently into your drink.
13. Sip and enjoy!

What is a Stockholm Sour?

The Stockholm Sour is a new vodka cocktail created by Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan.

It’s a twist on a New York Sour using Vodka instead of Whiskey.

What Does a Stockholm Sour Cocktail Taste Like?

Like the original New York Sour, the Stockholm Sour boasts the taste of tangy lemon and a hint of sweetness, topped with a fruity red wine float for a complex, layered taste.

“But with Absolut Vodka being the team player that it is, and born to mix, it makes all other flavors really, really stand out and the Claret Wine is really emphasized within this,” shares Rico.

The History of The Stockholm Sour

The Stockholm Sour was invented in 2024 by Rico. While making a New York Sour for the Absolut Drinks with Rico YouTube series, Rico tackled the question of whether the drink would work with Vodka. And the answer? Yes, it does!

To create the Stockholm Sour, Rico followed the exact same recipe as the New York Sour but swaps Rye Whiskey for Vodka. And just like that, a new cocktail was created. 

Tips for Making a Perfect Stockholm Sour

• Sweeten to your liking
  When making sours, the rule for Simple Syrup used to be 1:1, meaning one part Sugar to one part Water. However, nowadays, it’s all down to preference. For the Stockholm Sour and New York Sour, you’ll see that Rico opts for a 2:1 ratio to create a Rich Syrup. So, play around with it. At the end of the day, it’s your drink.

• Settle down and pour slow and steady
  After pouring your mixture into your glass, let it settle for a few seconds before adding the Claret so you can get the Claret into the drink properly. The secret to layering is to pour slow and steady. Use the back of your Bar Spoon to pour in the Claret.

• Add the Egg Whites last
  When adding ingredients to your Cocktail Shaker, put the Egg Whites in last. As Rico explains, after adding the Lemon Juice, you don’t want the Eggs to start “cooking,” which could result in a strange, scrambled egg-like texture.
  
  
• Shake it your way
  When making sours, Rico prefers using a reverse dry shake, which involves first shaking cocktail ingredients with Ice, then straining out the Ice and shaking again without it. The reverse dry shake is especially useful for drinks with Egg Whites like the Stockholm Sour, as it creates a frothy, velvety texture, which is exactly what you want for sour drinks. Try different shaking techniques and see which you prefer.
  

 Variations of a Stockholm Sour

• New York Sour
  The Stockholm Sour wouldn’t exist if not for the original New York Sour. In the words of Rico, “It’s possibly one of the best cocktails ever invented.” The two drinks follow the exact same recipe except the New York Sour uses Rye Whiskey. Take a look at our New York Sour recipe.

• Whiskey Sour
  The original and arguably still the best. The Whiskey Sour is considered the Monarch of the Sours cocktail family, with a rich history and the inspiration for countless sour drinks. Discover how to make a classic Whiskey Sour.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Stockholm Sour

We recommend serving the Stockholm Sour in a Rocks Glass with a single large Ice Block just like the New York Sour. Why? It makes for a more elegant drinking experience. It will also make sure your drink stays colder longer and won’t dilute or become too watery. 

Lemon Zest is the garnish of choice for sours, with the Stockholm Sour included. Squeeze the oils from Lemon Peel over your drink and then place the Peel directly in your Glass.