Easy Homemade Sour Mix Recipe

Unless you're ordering a drink on the rocks, most cocktails feature a sweet, yet sour mix that pairs well with alcohol like whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, and even brandy. This homemade sour mix is an excellent addition to any drink. It's sour, yet  sweet, like a tropical party in a glass. This recipe is just about as easy as it comes, requiring a short amount of prep time, and only a handful of ingredients. 

Recipe developer Christina Musgrave came up with this all-time classic recipe that you'll want to keep it in your fridge at all times. "I love that this is an easy, and affordable way to make sour mix. It's way cheaper than in stores," Musgrave raves. Another plus is that, since you are making it at home, you know exactly what goes into your sour mix. "This is better because it has more citrus flavor, and way less sugar than store-bought sour mix," Musgrave says.

Keep reading to find out how to make this delicious, homemade sour mix. 

Who knew making homemade sour mix would require so few ingredients? For this recipe, you will only need 4 things: water, sugar, fresh lemon juice, and fresh lime juice. "This is the traditional way to make this, but you could try this with 0 calorie sugar, or sub in orange juice for lemon or lime juice," Musgrave notes.

Once you have those ingredients, you can begin making this easy homemade sour mix.

To make the simple syrup, add the water and sugar to a sauce pan over medium heat, and continue stirring until the sugar dissolves. "Simple syrup is the base of sweet and sour mix. Simple syrup is super easy to make, and is just a 1-to-1 ratio of sugar and water," Musgrave notes. Once the sugar fully dissolves, remove the saucepan from the heat, and let it cool.

Once the simple syrup cools, transfer the liquid into a mason jar. Then, add the squeezed lemon and lime juice to the jar. "I use a handheld juicer that holds back the seeds, so they don't get in the way," Musgrave says. Next, place the cover on the mason jar, and shake to combine. If you don't have a mason jar, Musgrave recommends storing and shaking it "in any airtight container." 

Believe it or not, that's all you need to do to make this easy sour mix. This mixture is excellent in a variety of cocktails, and Musgrave shares a few of her favorites. "You could make a mocktail with soda or sparkling water, [or] use this in any cocktail that requires sour mix, such as an amaretto sour or whiskey sour," Musgrave says. You can store it for up to 1 month in the fridge.