Lou’s Whiskey Sours

I tasted my my first cocktail at the tender age of six—a wonderful whiskey sour in a high ball glass loaded with ice cubes. My parents only drank cocktails during the summer; the rest of the year belonged to wine or beer with pizza on Friday nights.  But when the warm weather arrived, my dad delved into the liquor cabinet for gin to pair with tonic and a squeeze of lime and whiskey to make his renown whiskey sours. The taste mesmerized me for how was it possible for a drink to be sweet and tart at the same time? He never used a mix nor a cocktail shaker. Instead, three simple ingredients-whisky, orange juice and his secret ingredient—the lemony cocktail mix Mi-Lem—were blended for a long while until a thick, white foam formed. The airy froth was the perfect compliment to the dense flavor that lay beneath.

I remember watching my dad make them after a day at the beach on Saturdays and waiting for a taste of that delicious foam. And because my sister and I were way too young to indulge, my father would fill our glasses with ice and orange juice and spoon a bit of that magnificent white froth on top. We clinked glasses and slurped up the foam into our little mouths before drinking our juice and sucking on the ice that miraculously captured the flavor of the whiskey.  They taste as good today as they did then. 

Lou’s Whiskey Sours

Serves 4

1 cup whiskey

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup Mi-Lem

Orange slices for garnish

Place ingredients in a blender and blend on medium until a thick froth forms, about one minute. Pour into high ball glasses filled with ice. Garnish with orange slices.

If you can’t find Mi-Lem in the store, you can purchase online.

https://www.liquoroutletwinecellars.com/sku01554_MI-LEM-16OZ

https://www.ugbrands.com/sweetened-lemon-mix/37-mi-lem-sweetened-lemon-mix.html