Apricot Sourball

Sidecar/New Orleans Sours & Riffs • December 16, 2025

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A photo of the Apricot Sourball cocktail containing Savage & Cooke Cask Finished Bourbon, Suze Aperitif, Giffard Abricot Du Roussillon, Freshly squeezed lemon juice in a Coupe.

Curiada Ingredients

1.00 fl oz Savage & Cooke Cask Finished Bourbon or alternative
1.00 fl oz Suze Aperitif or alternative
0.50 fl oz Giffard Abricot Du Roussillon or alternative

Other Ingredients

0.50 fl oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Add ice to cocktail shaker
Pour all ingredients into shaker
Shake vigorously with ice
Fine strain into chilled coupe glass
Garnish with dried apricot on rim

Cocktail Description

Take the classic whiskey sour, add a French twist, and you've got the captivating Apricot Sourball – a sophisticated cocktail that balances bourbon's warm caramel notes with bright fruit and delicate bitterness.

This cocktail delivers a complex interplay of flavors: Buffalo Trace bourbon provides a rich foundation of vanilla and oak, while Giffard's apricot liqueur brings luscious stone fruit sweetness that's perfectly cut by fresh lemon juice. The addition of Suze, a gentian-based aperitif, introduces subtle earthy bitterness and aromatic complexity that elevates this drink beyond an ordinary sour. It's perfect for spring and summer entertaining or as a refined pre-dinner cocktail when you want to impress without spending all night behind the bar.

While it requires a few specialty ingredients, the Apricot Sourball is surprisingly simple to prepare – just measure, shake, and strain. Pair it with cheese plates featuring mild, creamy selections, charcuterie with slightly sweet elements like prosciutto, or light appetizers with nutty or stone fruit components.