Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (2024)

By Rebecca Hubbell on | Updated | Rate Recipe

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This Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix recipe is perfect for making Whiskey Sour co*cktails and so much more! Made with fresh lemon and lime juice, sugar, and water, this sour recipe is a simple but essential craft drink staple.

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This Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix recipe is perfect for making Whiskey Sour co*cktails and so much more! Made with fresh lemon and lime juice, sugar, and water, this sour recipe is a simple but essential craft drink staple.

Ready to channel your inner mixologist? You’ll want to stock your bar with more homemade drink essentials like this Sour Mix, Simple Syrup, and Grenadine!

Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (2)

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The Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe

You can’t have a bar without Sour Mix. For the best taste, skip the store-bought stuff and make your own instead!

This recipe is a must if you enjoy classic co*cktails, whiskey-lemon juice concoctions, or fancy craft drinks! While it’s ideal as a Whiskey Sour mix recipe, it’s perfect for shaking up other drinks and co*cktails, too.

Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (3)

Sour Mix Ingredients

This recipe is made with equal parts of lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and water. If you prefer your sour mix to be more tart than sweet, you can reduce the sugar by half.

  • Lemon juice – For bright, sour flavor.
  • Lime juice – For even more dimension and citrusy goodness.
  • Granulated sugar – So it’s not TOO sour!
  • Water – Add more liquid and prevent the acidity from being too overpowered.
Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (4)

How To Make Sour Mix

Add the sugar and water as well as the lime and lemon juices to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes before removing from heat and allowing to cool completely before bottling up and using!

Store in a high-quality glass bottle or jars like a mason jar or a Weck Bottle to ensure ultimate freshness.

Run the fruit juices through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any pulp. Or run the whole mixture through once it has cooled.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What Is Sour Mix?

Also known as sweet and sour mix, it’s used in co*cktail recipes and has a citrusy base with a bit of sugar. It’s popular in drink recipes made with whiskey, tequila, and amaretto.

Is Sour Mix Alcoholic?

The mixture itself is not, but it is most commonly used in co*cktail recipes.

Is It Gluten Free/Vegan/Keto?

This mix is both gluten-free and vegan. (If you have any concerns, just make sure to get sugar that’s either gluten-free or vegan certified.) However, it’s not keto-friendly since there’s sugar in it.

What’s The Difference Between Sour And Margarita Mix?

Margarita mix is traditionally made with just lime juice. That said, you can definitely use this mix for margaritas.Or you can make margarita mix with the same process using a 1:1:1 ratio of water, sugar, and lime juice.

What Is The Shelf Life Of Sour Mix?

Yes, but luckily it lasts a while – about 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. You can add 1 tablespoon of vodka to extend the shelf life by about 1 week.

Can It Be Frozen?

Yes, you can! Just wait until it’s completely cooled then put it in a freezer-safe container or bag or freeze it in an ice cube tray.

How Much Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe yields about 2 cups. Feel free to double it if you’re making large batch co*cktails, but I find that this is more than enough if you’re just making a few drinks here and there over the course of a couple of weeks.

Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (6)

What Drinks Can I Make With Sour Mix?

Grab your co*cktail shaker and mix up some classic sour drink recipes:

  • Amaretto Sour– This is one of my favorite co*cktail recipes! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and sour, yet still quite refreshing.
  • Whiskey Sour– This classic is made with the addition of an egg white and is also sometimes referred to as a Boston Sour.
  • Tequila Sour – This one has a nice kick and gets finished with lemon-lime soda.
  • Vodka Sour – This version gets a dash of bitters for a refined finish.
  • New York Sour – Made with a red wine floater, this is the prettiest of them all!
  • Margaritas – One of the most popular drinks around! Although it’s usually made with just lime juice, you can use sour mix in it as well.

We also love using it in this Blueberry Gin Sour co*cktail!

More Homemade Drink Ingredients

  • Raspberry Simple Syrup – Sweet, tart, and perfect for mixing in co*cktails, iced teas, or lemonades!
  • Candied Lemons – These make a sweet, beautiful garnish for any drink.
  • Grenadine Syrup – Made with pomegranate juice, this bar staple is way better homemade!
  • Homemade Irish Cream – A rich, boozy mix-in for your coziest co*cktails.

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried thisrecipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!

Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (7)

Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (8)

5 from 6 votes

Sour Mix


Author Rebecca Hubbell

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

This Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix recipe is perfect for making Whiskey Sour co*cktails and so much more! Made with fresh lemon and lime juice, sugar, and water, this sour recipe is a simple but essential craft drink staple.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup lime juice
  • ½ cup lemon juice

Instructions

  • Add ingredients to a medium pot and bring to a boil.

  • Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

  • Remove from heat and allow to cool in the pan for 30 minutes before bottling.

Notes

  • Store for about 2 to 3 weeks in a bottle in the refrigerator.
  • This mix is both gluten-free and vegan. (If you have any concerns, just make sure to get sugar that’s either gluten-free or vegan certified.) However, it’s not keto-friendly since there’s sugar in it.
  • This recipe is made with equal parts of lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and water. If you prefer your sour mix to be more tart than sweet, you can reduce the sugar by half.
  • This recipe yields about 2 cups. Feel free to double it if you’re making large-batch co*cktails, but I find that this is more than enough if you’re just making a few drinks here and there over the course of a couple of weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 8mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Don’t forget to share it with me on Instagram @sugarandsoulco and follow on Tiktok @sugarandsoulco and Pinterest @sugarandsoulco for more!

Best Homemade Sour Mix Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is sour mix made of? ›

Sour mix is a combination of sugar, water, lemons, and limes. One homemade batch can give you a whole party's worth of margaritas, whiskey sours, or daiquiris without much effort. A bottle of sour mix may call you from the store shelf with a siren song of good times and an easy-pour spout.

What is a good substitute for sour mix? ›

You can use any citrus juice, such as lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit — or a combination — to mix with a sweetener like simple syrup, honey syrup, agave nectar or even maple syrup. Anything labeled “margarita mix” will also work.

How long does homemade sour mix last? ›

Homemade Sour Mix can be refrigerated for a minimum of two weeks. I normally keep mine for a month or so. Choose a cute bottle and add a homemade label. Feel free to swap some of the citrus for what you have on hand such as oranges or grapefruits.

What is the difference between sour mix and sweet and sour mix? ›

Sour mix (also known as sweet and sour mix) is a mixer that is yellow-green in color and is used in many co*cktails. It is made from approximately equal parts lemon and/or lime juice and simple syrup and shaken vigorously with ice.

What is in store bought sour mix? ›

Margarita Mix. Serving Size: 4.00 fl. oz. Ingredients: WATER, CANE SUGAR, CITRIC ACID, AGAVE NECTAR, CONCENTRATED LIME JUICE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CELLULOSE GUM, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), ACACIA GUM, POLYSORBATE 60, ESTER GUM, RED 40.

How long does sour mix last? ›

It is best to consume within 1-2 weeks when stored correctly in the refrigerator. ', 'Frozen': 'Sweet and sour mix can be frozen to extend its lifespan. It can be stored frozen in ice cube trays for up to 3 months without losing its taste or quality.

Can I use lemon juice instead of sour mix? ›

Sour mix is both sweet and sour, so if you need to make a swap, you'll want to make sure you add both so the taste will be comparable. Using equal parts lemon juice or lime juice and simple syrup or soda is the safest bet.

What is the difference between sour mix and lemonade? ›

Lemonade | Essentially a sour mix is a more concentrated lemonade in a way. It is a great base for so many drinks but even watering it down can give that tart and sweet flavor of lemonade that so many love and know.

Why do bars use sour mix? ›

Contemporary bars often use sour mixes to add the combined tartness and sweetness in with one jigger pour.

Is sour mix the same as whiskey sour mix? ›

Of course Sour Mix, Sweet & Sour Mix, Whiskey Sour Mix, Daiquiri Mix, and even Margarita Mix (for the most part) are all essentially the same thing.

What ingredients are in bitters? ›

What are Bitters Made of? Bitters are a neutral alcohol infused with spices, herbs, fruits, roots, and other ingredients. Common ingredients include cinchona bark, gentian root, cascarilla, orange peel, and others. Most bitters are 35 to 45% ABV (alcohol by volume), so they have a relatively high alcohol content.

How many lemons for half cup juice? ›

1/2 Cup Lemon Juice - 2 1/2 Lemons. 3/4 Cup Lemon Juice - 4 Lemons. 1 Cup Lemon Juice - 5 1/4 Lemons.

Is Tom Collins mix the same as sour mix? ›

The Tom Collins is arguably the most recognizable example of the Collins family of drinks. Generally speaking, a Collins simply means a sour co*cktail (those involving a spirit mixed with sugar and citrus) served in a tall glass over ice, and topped with soda water.

Is Collins mix the same as sour mix? ›

Collins mix is carbonated -- more like lemon-lime soda than like sour mix. Sweet and Sour mix is probably the same as Sour mix: that is, citric acid and corn syrup with artificial or natural lemon flavor. It's going to be more concentrated than the Collins mix, as well as not being carbonated.

Is simple syrup the same as sour mix? ›

Well, simply sugar and water! Hence, simple syrup. And all you need for sour mix, is equal parts simple syrup and lime/lemon juice. Depending on what I have on hand, I use either lemon or lime juice.

Is whiskey sour mix the same as sweet and sour mix? ›

Of course Sour Mix, Sweet & Sour Mix, Whiskey Sour Mix, Daiquiri Mix, and even Margarita Mix (for the most part) are all essentially the same thing.

What is a substitute for sweet and sour mix? ›

Here's what I use:
  • 6 tablespoons sugar.
  • 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) water.
  • 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) lime juice.
  • 6 ounces (¾ cup) lemon juice.
Feb 12, 2024

Why do we shake sour mix? ›

You should shake co*cktails that include: fruit juice, dairy or cream, egg whites, or sour mix. Shaking combines the different flavors of these ingredients efficiently, dilutes the alcohol, balances the flavors, and quickly chills the drink.

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