The Whiskey Sour

[Mr_Misanthropy]

I'm having a little get together this evening with some co-workers in my home. I've decided to make whiskey sours along with some other libations. I've never had or made one before, so I'm new to this. Ingredient #1 I'm sure of, a bottle of Maker's Mark. Check. Now, I hate the sour mix you buy at the store, so, I figured I'd make my own. Simple syrup and lemon juice. This is where I run into options. I've read recipes that have you mix the whiskey, syrup, and lemon juice as three separate ingredients, and some others that have you mix the lemon juice and syrup into a sour mix. I figure this is the best place to inquire about this classic drink. So how do you take your whiskey sour? Any recommendations on sour mix that doesn't taste horrible (*cough*FinestCall*cough)? I'll probably be using cherries to garnish, maybe an orange or lemon slice. I'd love some insight on how to make this classic drink in the most "authentic" way possible. Egg white as an ingredient will not be considered lol !

Thanks!