Homemade Sour Mix For Cocktails

Discover the easy way to make your own delicious and versatile Homemade Sour Mix for Cocktails! This simple recipe uses just 4 basic ingredients and can be customised to your taste preferences. Perfect for a variety of classic cocktails like Whiskey Sours, Margaritas, and Daiquiris.

What is Sour Mix?

Sour mix is a sweet and sour mixer commonly used in cocktails. It is a blend of lemon juice, lime juice, and simple syrup that provides a balanced sweet and tart flavor to cocktails. The sour mix is used in many popular cocktails such as Margaritas, Whiskey Sours, and Daiquiris.

My current favorite cocktail is this easy and refreshing Aperol Sour recipe made with the delicious Italian liqueur Aperol.

Store-bought sour mix is widely available, but many bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts prefer to make their own homemade sour mix as it allows for greater control over the sweetness and tartness levels.

Making your own sour mix is also more cost-effective and allows you to adjust the recipe to suit your taste preferences.

Why make a DIY Sour Mix for cocktails

1. Control over the taste: When you make your own sour mix, you have control over the sweetness and sourness levels, allowing you to adjust the recipe to suit your personal taste preferences.
2. Fresh ingredients: Homemade sour mix is made with fresh lemon and lime juice, ensuring a bright and vibrant flavor. Store-bought sour mix can often taste artificial and lack the depth of flavor that comes from using fresh citrus.
3. Cost-effective: Making your own sour mix can be more cost-effective than purchasing pre-made mixers. This is especially true if you can source the ingredients in bulk.
4. Customization: When you make your own sour mix, you can add other ingredients to create unique and interesting flavors. For example, you can add herbs like basil or mint to create a flavored sour mix for cocktails.
5. Quality control: By making your own sour mix, you have control over the ingredients used, and can ensure that you are using high-quality ingredients free of preservatives and artificial flavors.

Ingredients for homemade sour mix

The basic ingredients for homemade sour mix are:

1. Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the sourness to the mix.
2. Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice adds an extra layer of tartness and helps to balance the sweetness of the simple syrup.
3. Simple syrup: This provides the sweetness to the mix. Simple syrup is made by dissolving equal parts sugar and water over heat.
4. Water: A small amount of water helps to balance the flavors and make the mix easier to mix into cocktails.

How to make homemade sour mix

Step One: Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step Two: Once the simple syrup has cooled, combine it with the lemon juice and lime juice in a large glass or stainless steel pitcher.

Step Three: Stir the ingredients together until well combined.

Step Four: Taste the mix and adjust the sweetness and sourness levels as needed. If you prefer a sweeter mix, add a little more simple syrup. If you prefer a more sour mix, add more lemon or lime juice.

Step Five: Once you are satisfied with the flavor, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any pulp or seeds.

How to store homemade sour mix

Store the sour mix in a clean, airtight bottle or container in the refrigerator. It should last for up to 1 week.

1. Use a clean, airtight container: Make sure to use a clean, airtight bottle or container to store your sour mix. This will prevent contamination and keep the mix fresh for longer.
2. Label the container: Label the container with the date it was made to keep track of its shelf life.
3. Keep it refrigerated: Store the sour mix in the refrigerator at all times. The cold temperature will slow down the growth of bacteria and prevent spoilage.
4. Use within a week: Homemade sour mix should be used within a week of being made. If you do not plan to use it all within a week, it may be a good idea to make a smaller batch to ensure freshness.
5. Stir before using: Before using the sour mix, give it a good stir to redistribute the flavors. The lemon and lime juices may separate from the simple syrup over time, so stirring before using will ensure an even flavor in your cocktails.

Easy cocktail recipes using sour mix

1. Whiskey Sour: Fill a shaker with ice. Add 2 oz of whiskey, ¾ oz of sour mix, and a splash of grenadine. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
2. Margarita: Fill a shaker with ice. Add 2 oz of tequila, 1 oz of sour mix, and 1 oz of triple sec. Shake well and strain into a salt-rimmed glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
3. Daiquiri: Fill a blender with ice. Add 2 oz of rum, 1 oz of sour mix, and 1 oz of simple syrup. Blend until smooth and pour into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.
4. Vodka Sour: Fill a shaker with ice. Add 2 oz of vodka, ¾ oz of sour mix, and a splash of bitters. Shake well and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
5. Long Island Iced Tea: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add ½ oz each of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and triple sec. Fill the glass with equal parts sour mix and cola. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Recipe