Inside: Ina Garten shares her secret for judging a bar’s quality using one classic cocktail. Find out what it is and why it’s the ultimate test of mixology skills!
W ant to know how to quickly gauge a bar’s skill? There’s one classic drink that tells you everything you need to know.
Ina Garten has cracked the code for evaluating a new bar. The one cocktail she always orders? A whiskey sour.
Why? Because if they can balance the whiskey, sourness, and sweetness just right, you know you’ve found a spot worth sticking around for.

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A whiskey sour might seem like a simple cocktail, but it’s deceptively tricky. The balance of whiskey, citrus, and sweetness is a delicate dance, and when done right, it’s absolute perfection. Add the optional egg white for that silky frothiness, and suddenly you’ve got a drink that separates the pros from the amateurs. Too sweet? Too sour? Too flat? One sip tells Ina everything she needs to know.
She didn’t just stumble onto this brilliant hack, either. Ina revealed in an 2016 interview with Punch that she tested it out during a Paris bar crawl (because, of course, she did). Each bar got one shot—literally—to impress her. The winners? They nailed the delicate harmony of bold whiskey and zesty citrus without overpowering the palate.
Like the whiskey sour, other classic cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned, also reveal a bartender’s skill. If you’re a fan of timeless drinks, here’s how to make a foolproof Old Fashioned at home.

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Ina even adds her signature touch when making whiskey sours at home. She swaps the standard lemon juice for a mix of lemon and lime, giving it a double dose of citrus zing. Because Ina knows: if you’re going to serve cocktails, you’ve gotta go big or go barefoot (see what I did there?).
Now, let’s be real—most of us aren’t hopping between Parisian bars, but the whiskey sour test works anywhere. Next time you’re eyeing that fancy cocktail list at a new bar, channel your inner Ina. Skip the over-the-top creations with 15 ingredients and ask for a whiskey sour instead. If it’s amazing, you’ve found your new go-to spot. If it’s not? Well, at least you’ve got a solid story to tell.
Try It at home
And hey, if you’re staying in? Shake one up yourself. Here’s a simple whiskey sour recipe to get you started.
Whether you’re testing a new bar or perfecting your skills at home, the whiskey sour is more than a drink—it’s a celebration of balance, creativity, and craft. So raise your glass, channel your inner Ina, and savor every sip. Cheers! 🥂
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