Shrunken Citrus Rye Stir
A balanced rye whiskey cocktail brightened with fresh lemon and a hint of aromatic bitters, stirred to silky smoothness. This recipe, ready in about 5 minutes, brings together rye whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup (2:1) for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 170 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup (2:1)
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- as needed ice cubes
- 1 strip lemon twist
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice cubes. Pour in 2 oz rye whiskey, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup (2:1 sugar to water).
- Step 2: Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters. Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Step 3: Strain the cocktail into a chilled coupe glass using a Hawthorne strainer.
- Step 4: Express a wide strip of lemon peel over the surface to release the oils, then rim the glass with it before resting it elegantly on the rim as garnish.
