Maple Leaf
Bourbon, lemon and maple syrup, shaken over ice. The Whiskey Sour with maple in place of sugar — a 1930s Canadian idea that American bars adopted for autumn.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Add the bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup and bitters (if using) to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass, or up into a chilled coupe.
Express a lemon twist over the top and drop it in.
A thoughtful finish
- Real maple syrup, the darker the better.
- Half an ounce; maple is sweeter than simple syrup.
- An egg white makes it a silky autumn sour.
Common mistakes
- Pancake syrup, which is corn syrup with flavouring.
- Too much maple.
- Bottled lemon.
A few good questions.
What does a Maple Leaf taste like?
A Whiskey Sour with maple's caramel and wood instead of plain sugar — richer and more autumnal.
Bourbon or Canadian?
Canadian whisky is the 1930s version and the flag; bourbon is richer.
Which maple grade?
Grade A dark (formerly grade B) has the most flavour.
Can I add egg white?
Yes; dry shake first for a silky sour.
Variations
- Whiskey Sour — Bourbon, lemon and sugar.
- Maple Bourbon Smash — Bourbon, lemon, maple and mint.
- Gold Rush — Bourbon, lemon and honey.
- Maple Old Fashioned — Bourbon, maple and bitters.
Where it comes from
c. 1930s · Canada / United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The Maple Leaf is a Whiskey Sour sweetened with maple syrup, and it appears in American bar guides from the 1930s — Old Mr. Boston has it — usually with Canadian whisky, which with the maple makes it Canadian by name and by flag. Modern bars make it with bourbon, whose vanilla and caramel meet the maple’s own, and it has become a standard autumn drink. The maple must be real; the syrup’s quantity is smaller than simple syrup’s because it is sweeter and has more flavour. A dash of Angostura or a few drops of orange bitters, and it is a serious sour.
Sources
- Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide, 1935 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Maple Leaf, 2010 (reference)
- Liquor.com, Maple Leaf, 2019 (reference)
Strength. About 1.52 US standard drinks at an estimated 22.3% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
A keeper?
Save this drink for your next cocktail hour.
Saved in this browser.The next great drink
might already be on your shelf.
Choose your bottles and mixers. Discover what you can make.