Sour Mix… in Disguise

Sour Mix, the base of many popular cocktails, has gotten a bad rap thanks to the artificial tasting products put on the market to date. At its best, Sour Mix is a perfectly sweet-tart, powerfully citrus base for cocktails like the Margarita, Tom Collins, Whiskey Sour, Sidecar, and many more. But to look at the ingredient listings on virtually all of the “Sour Mixes” on the market today you would think that the classical bartenders of the mid-century had a chemistry background.

As with most things, its greatness lies in its simplicity: freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice and simple syrup. The original recipe doesn’t call for flavorings, preservatives or colors.

The problem, though, is that most of us don’t have the time to squeeze fresh lemons and limes or to create homemade simple syrup. Or, if we do have the time, maybe we’d just rather be doing something else. (Not to mention the havoc that citric acid would have on your manicure!)

So, while we don’t have an official Sour Mix just yet, it seems like a good time to let you in on a little secret. Stirrings Lemon Drop  [1]is actually a Sour Mix in disguise. Yup, that sneaky little bugger is really much more than its label suggests. Lemon Drop [1]is real, natural lemon juice combined with a simple syrup base.  Sound familiar?

Now that you’ve got the inside track, pick up this cocktail cameleon and mix away to your heart’s content! This mixer will taste delicious with virtually any spirit. How’s that for a weekend project?