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About This Syrup
Sweet & Sour Mix, also called Sour Mix or Lemon Sour Mix, is a citrus-flavored sweetener that has been used in cocktails since the 1800s. Large bottles of its premixed ingredients can be found in stores, but I don’t recommend using those because just about all of them are made with reconstituted citrus juices or citrus peel oils, which have a very different flavor than fresh citrus juice.
Instead, I make ours at home to achieve the freshest flavors possible that are closer to what the cocktail’s creator intended. The process is very simple, much like that of homemade simple syrup or grenadine. Read on for instructions on how to make your own at home using a few common ingredients and tools!
Syrup Ingredients
To make this simple syrup, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Lemon Juice: This is a fruit juice that adds sweet citrus flavor. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Lime Juice: This is a fruit juice that adds sour citrus flavor. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
White Sugar: This is a sweetener. I used a generic white sugar from our local grocery store.
Water: This stretches out the citrus juices and turns the syrup into a liquid. I prefer to use filtered water to prevent contamination.
How to Make This Syrup
When making flavored syrups, I prefer to use the sous vide method, but simple sugar syrups that don’t need to infuse very long should be made on the stovetop because it only takes a minute or two to dissolve the sugar in the citrus juices and water.
To make this syrup, you’ll need the following tools:
Saucepan: This is what the syrup ingredients are placed inside to cook.
Silicone Spatula: This is used to stir the syrup. I use OXO Good Grips Silicone Spatulas because their flexibility allows them to stir and wipe the syrups out of the pan more thoroughly than spoons.
Fine Mesh Strainer: This is used to remove solid ingredients from the syrup during the transfer process. I use the Barfly Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer because its tightly woven mesh is excellent for removing small seeds and pieces of fruit.
Funnel: This is used to transfer the syrup from the bag to the storage containers without making a mess. I prefer to use a small silicone funnel because that type is flexible and easy to store.
Squeeze Bottle: This is used to store the syrup in the refrigerator for immediate use. I prefer OXO Good Grips Squeeze Bottles because they are high quality.
Storage Pouch with Pouring Spout: This is used to store extra syrup in the freezer for later use.
How to Store This Syrup
Once the syrup is made, it will need to be kept cool to preserve its freshness. Whether it will be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer affects the type of container I use, and I make the decision on where to store it based on when I expect to use some or all of the syrup in cocktails.
Refrigerator Storage: I will usually store our syrups in the refrigerator when I plan to use them in a cocktail either right away or within a few days. If that’s the case, I will store some in a condiment squeeze bottle so I can easily pour the syrup into a jigger when I make the drink. It’s rare that I need all sixteen ounces right away though, so I often keep some in the refrigerator and will transfer the rest of the syrup to a pouch so it can be frozen and used later.
Freezer Storage: I will usually store our syrups in the freezer when I don’t think I will use them in a cocktail within a week. If that’s the case, I store them in pouches with pouring spouts because those are made with a flexible material that won’t come open as the syrup expands during the freezing process. I will then thaw the pouches in a bowl of water when I want to use the syrup again.
Simple syrup should last one to two weeks in the refrigerator and can last up to six months if frozen. I recommend listing the date the syrup was made before storing it so you can keep track of when batches should be used or discarded.
Recipe
This recipe yields approximately sixteen ounces of syrup, which is enough for anywhere from fifteen to thirty-five cocktails depending on the amount needed for the drink.
Add sugar and water to a saucepan.
Heat over medium high heat while stirring constantly.
Cook while stirring until sugar is fully dissolved.
Remove from heat immediately after sugar dissolves and before boiling begins.
Add lemon juice and lime juice to pan.
Stir for 5-7 seconds.
Cover and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
Strain syrup through a fine mesh filter 1-2 times and transfer to container.
Ingredients
Directions
Add sugar and water to a saucepan.
Heat over medium high heat while stirring constantly.
Cook while stirring until sugar is fully dissolved.
Remove from heat immediately after sugar dissolves and before boiling begins.
Add lemon juice and lime juice to pan.
Stir for 5-7 seconds.
Cover and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
Strain syrup through a fine mesh filter 1-2 times and transfer to container.
Tools We Recommend
More Syrup Recipes
If you like this syrup, here are a few others we make and use in our cocktails that you may enjoy:
Cranberry Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with fresh cranberries, cane sugar, citric acid, and water
Gingerbread Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with gingerbread spice, honey, vanilla extract, white sugar, brown sugar, gum Arabic powder, and water
Blueberry Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with fresh blueberries, white sugar, gum Arabic powder, citric acid, and water
Apple Cinnamon Syrup: A sous vide syrup made with apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and white sugar
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