Old Thyme Sour Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 11/30/21
Old Thyme Sour Cocktail in a glass, garnished with lemon and thyme

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Syrup: 40 mins
Total: 43 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Building on a classic whiskey sour recipe, the old thyme sour adds a number of new twists to create a delightful, very fun cocktail. The cocktail was created by Michael Grissinger and is innovative on many levels. It all begins with a mix of fresh thyme and Chartreuse, which is eventually lit on fire to give the drink a sweet and herbal smoky background.

Building on that, this sour combines Irish whiskey with elderflower and homemade cinnamon-thyme syrup. Of course, in true sour fashion, there's a healthy dose of fresh lemon and a touch of egg white for that amazing texture that no other ingredient can give drinks.

Ingredients

For the Cinnamon-Thyme Syrup:

  • 1 cup water

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme

For the Cocktail:

  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme, divided

  • 1/4 ounce Green Chartreuse Liqueur

  • 2 ounces Irish whiskey

  • 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur

  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1/2 ounce cinnamon-thyme simple syrup

  • 1 large egg white

  • 1 dash bitters

  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

  • Lemon slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Cinnamon-Thyme Simple Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Cinnamon-Thyme Simple Syrup ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and stir in the sugar to dissolve.

    Sugar and water in a saucepan with a wooden spoon on a burner

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally. Add the cinnamon stick and thyme and then simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes, to taste.

    Sugar, water, thyme and cinnamon in a saucepan on a burner

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain, cool, and bottle in a well-sealed container.

    Cinnamon-Thyme Simple Syrup syrup in a bottle

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Make the Old Thyme Sour Cocktail

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Old Thyme Sour Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Place the 2 sprigs of thyme and Chartreuse in an old-fashioned glass and stir to coat the thyme. Set aside.

    Sprigs of thyme and Chartreuse in a glass with a spoon

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. In a cocktail shaker, add 2 sprigs of thyme, whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, cinnamon-thyme syrup, egg white, and bitters.

    Thyme, whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, cinnamon-thyme syrup, egg white, and bitters next to a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Dry shake to incorporate the ingredients.

    Shake the cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Add ice to the shaker and shake thoroughly.

    Cocktail shaker next to a bowl with ice

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Light the liqueur-soaked thyme on fire in the glass.

    Light the liqueur-soaked thyme on fire in the glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Double strain the contents of the shaker into the glass to extinguish the flame.

    Strain the cocktail into a glass with thyme

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Add lemon zest and fill with fresh ice.

    Old Thyme Sour Cocktail in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Garnish with a lemon slice and the remaining sprig of thyme. Serve and enjoy.

    Old Thyme Sour Cocktail in a glass, garnished with lemon and thyme

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk for foodborne illness.

Tips

  • The flavored syrup makes just over 1 cup, so you'll have plenty for many cocktails. It can also be used in other mixed drinks and makes an interesting sweetener for tea.
  • Store the homemade syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
  • Green Chartreuse is higher proof (55 percent ABV) than Yellow Chartreuse (40 percent ABV), so it will burn better.
  • Skip the egg white if you prefer.

How Strong Is an Old Thyme Sour?

The old thyme sour is similar in strength to most sour cocktails. Its alcohol content should come out to around 18 percent ABV (36 proof), or about the same as a strong whiskey ginger.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
347 Calories
5g Fat
27g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 347
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 186mg 62%
Sodium 83mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 48mg 238%
Calcium 113mg 9%
Iron 5mg 27%
Potassium 244mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)