Homemade Sour Mix

Your home bar isn’t complete without Homemade Sour Mix – the ultimate secret weapon for elevating cocktails. With its zingy blend of fresh lemon and lime juice, sweetened with just the right amount of sugar, it’s the perfect ingredient to add a burst of flavor to your favorite cocktails.

Sour Mix Uses

Sour mix is a key ingredient in many popular cocktails, including margaritas, whiskey sours, and daiquiris. It adds a bright, tangy flavor to drinks and can be easily made at home using just a few simple ingredients. It is a versatile cocktail ingredient that can be used in a variety of drinks such as:

1. Margaritas: Use it in place of lime juice and Simple Syrup to make a Classic Margarita or even a unique one such as a Vodka Margarita.
2. Whiskey sours: Mix whiskey, homemade sour mix, and a dash of bitters for a refreshing and classic whiskey sour. Shake with ice and serve up or over ice.
3. Daiquiris: Blend rum, homemade sour mix, and fruit (like strawberries or raspberries for a Raspberry Daiquiri) with ice for a frozen daiquiri that’s perfect for hot summer days.
4. Collins cocktails: Use homemade sour mix to make a Tom Collins or a Raspberry Collins. Just add gin or vodka, soda water, and ice to a glass, and top with sour mix.
5. Shots: Many shots such as the Green Tea Shot or the White Tea shot use sour mix and the homemade version always makes them taste better.
6. Mocktails: Homemade sour mix can also be used to make non-alcoholic drinks. Mix it with soda water, ginger ale, or iced tea for a refreshing and flavorful mocktail.

How to Make Homemade Sour Mix

1. Dissolve the sugar. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, just until sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely.
2. Juice the lemons and limes. While the sugar is dissolving (it won’t take long) go ahead and juice your lemons and limes. You can finish juicing them while the Simple Syrup mixture cools.

3. Add the juices. Pour both the lemon juice and lime juice into the mixture and stir it to combine.

Ingredients Needed

• Sugar – Granulated sugar is the preferred sweetener because it dissolves easily in water, creating a consistent and smooth texture. Other sweeteners like honey, agave syrup, or maple syrup may have distinct flavors that could alter the taste of the sour mix.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice is preferred because it provides a bright and tangy flavor that is difficult to replicate with bottled or concentrated lemon juice. You’ll need about 5 to 6 lemons to get 1 cup of Lemon Juice.
• Lime Juice – Fresh squeezed lime juice is an important component of this sour mix recipe because it adds a distinct flavor and acidity that is essential to many classic cocktails. The juice of fresh limes has a bright, citrusy flavor that is difficult to replicate with bottled or concentrated lime juice.

FAQS

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Cool the syrup quickly. Don’t let the sugar and water mixture overheat. You want to just dissolve the sugar and to cool it quickly you can mix in ½ cup or less of ice or place it in the fridge.
• Strain the mix. Straining the mix through a fine mesh strainer can remove any pulp or seeds from the juice, resulting in a smoother and more consistent texture.
• Make it ahead of time. Homemade sour mix can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. This can save time when making cocktails, as the mix is readily available.
• Add flavor variations. You can add flavor variations to your homemade sour mix by infusing the mix with herbs or spices. Start with a Rosemary Simple Syrup instead or infuse the mix with thyme or cinnamon.

Recipes that Use Sour Mix