Sour mix

What sour mix means

You will meet sour mix in drinks such as the Whiskey Sour, the Tom Collins, the Margarita and the Amaretto Sour. It is sold bottled, and you can also make it at home with fresh juice. Making your own also lets you control the sweetness, which is hard to do with a bottle.

Some people think sour mix and sweet and sour mix are two different products. They are two names for one citrus and sugar mixer. The names differ only in wording, so a bottle labeled sweet and sour mix works wherever a recipe asks for sour mix.

If you have no mix, use fresh lemon or lime juice with simple syrup in the same drink, measured separately. The fresh method takes the same sugar and juice, measured one drink at a time.

How to make sour mix

You need a saucepan, a lidded jar, and fresh lemons and limes, since the mix is only juice, sugar and water.

1.Heat 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water until the sugar dissolves, then let the syrup cool.
2.Squeeze 0.5 cup (120 ml) of lemon juice, about 2 or 3 lemons, and 0.5 cup (120 ml) of lime juice, about 5 or 6 limes.
3.Add both juices to the cooled syrup and shake well.
4.Store it covered in the fridge and use it within about a week.

Sour mix compared

Fresh citrus and syrupFresh citrus and simple syrup measured into each drink works the same way, one glass at a time.
SourA sour is a style of drink. Sour mix is a shortcut ingredient you can use to make one.
CordialLime cordial is a sweetened lime concentrate with a stronger, cooked flavor. Sour mix is fresh juice and syrup.
Bottled sour mixBottled sour mix is very sweet and often has colors and preservatives. Homemade is only juice, sugar and water.

Examples

Related terms

Ingredients

Put it to use in your next drink

Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.