Pumpkin Pie Cocktail (Pumpkin Whiskey Sour)
The Pumpkin Pie cocktail is the perfect cocktail to embrace autumn, made with whiskey, pumpkin puree, lemon, and a hint of pumpkin spice.
If you love pumpkin cocktails, try my Pumpkin Butter Whiskey Smash and Pumpkin Spice Cocktail.
The Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour is an autumn-inspired cocktail that’s easy to make and even easier to enjoy. With bourbon whiskey, lemon, pumpkin puree, egg white and a homemade brown sugar vanilla syrup, it’s like sipping on a slice of pumpkin pie with a kick. I used Meyer lemon, but if you like your drinks on the more tart side, opt for a regular lemon.
Recipe Ingredients
For the Cocktail
- Whiskey: Use your favorite high quality whiskey. I used Bulleit Bourbon.
- Meyer Lemon: These are less tart than other lemons, but you can use whatever lemon you have on hand. Using another lemon would give you a tarter cocktail so you can adjust according to your liking
- Pumpkin Puree: Canned pumpkin puree is perfect for this. I used Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin.
- Egg White: If you’re vegan or have an egg allergy, swap it with aquafaba.
- Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup: This homemade syrup is super easy to make. Maple syrup or simple syrup is a good alternative.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: Or you can make your own with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and clove.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice, Dehydrated lemon, Sage: For garnish, star anise or cinnamon sticks are also great festive garnishes.
For the Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup
- Dark Brown Sugar: I used C&H Dark Brown Sugar.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Always go for pure instead of imitation
- Boiling Water
Tools & Equipment
Check out my favorite glasses here!
Can I Make a Whiskey Sour Vegan?
If you’re a vegan, allergic to eggs, or just curious about new ingredients, aquafaba is a great alternative to egg whites for a whiskey sour. Aquafaba is the viscous liquid found in cans of chickpeas or left over from cooking legumes at home. This versatile vegan alternative to egg whites contains proteins and starches that create a foam when whipped, making it perfect for adding frothiness to cocktails like the Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour. Simply replace egg whites with aquafaba to achieve that creamy texture without using eggs.
How to Make the Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour
Prepare the Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup
You can do this in advance. Combine brown sugar and boiling water in a heatproof bowl or cup. Whisk together until the sugar dissolves. Stir in pure vanilla extract. Let it chill before using.
Prepare the Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour Cocktail
Step 1: To craft the Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour, combine whiskey, Meyer lemon juice, pumpkin puree, egg white, your brown sugar syrup, and a dash of pumpkin pie spice in a cocktail shaker. Dry shake the mixture vigorously, without ice, until it turns foamy. Next, add 2-3 large ice cubes to the shaker and shake again until the cubes melt.
Step 2: Pour the mixture into a cocktail glass over a large ice rock (you can check out my favorite glasses here). For the finishing touches, top it off with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice and garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and a sprig of sage, if desired.
Watch How to Make this Pumpkin Pie Cocktail
Tips for Making a Pumpkin Pie Cocktail
- Dry shaking your cocktail (without ice) will give you the best foam. After, I like to add just enough ice to chill the drink and shake until it is melted so I can pour the drink instead of straining it and maintain all the foam.
- Adjust the drink your taste before pouring into the glass with more lemon or brown sugar syrup.
- Mocktail version: Pumpkin Mocktail Sour
More Pumpkin Cocktails to Try
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Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
Cocktail
- 2 oz whiskey
- 1 meyer lemon
- 1/2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1 egg white
- 3/4 oz brown sugar vanilla syrup
- Dash of pumpkin pie spice
- For garnish: pumpkin spice, dehydrated lemon, sage
Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Cocktail
- Add whiskey, juice from meyer lemon, pumpkin puree, egg white, brown sugar syrup, and pumpkin pie spice to a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice) until foamy. Add 2-3 ice cubes and shake until cubes are melted. Pour into a cocktail glass over a large rock.
- Top with a sprinkle of pumpkin. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel and sage sprig, if desired.
Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup
- Add brown sugar and boiling water to a heatproof cup or bowl and stir until dissolved. Stir in vanilla extract and chill.
Notes
- Dry shaking your cocktail (without ice) will give you the best foam. After, I like to add just enough ice to chill the drink and shake until it is melted so I can pour the drink instead of straining it and maintain all the foam.
- Adjust the drink your taste before pouring into the glass with more lemon or brown sugar syrup.
- Mocktail version: Pumpkin Mocktail Sour
This one tastes just like pumpkin pie! I hope you love it as much as we did!
Question! Could you pre-mix a large pitcher of this and then just on shake on ice before serving?
Yes! You could also make a large batch and blend it together with a handful of ice to eliminate all the shaking! Then just serve over ice.