How to Make Sweet and Sour Mix for Cocktails

Last Updated: October 20, 2020 References Tested

Sweet and sour cocktails are a highlight of many happy hours—but how do you recreate this tasty drink base in your favorite cocktails once you’re back at home? Thankfully, a basic sweet and sour mix requires just a few simple ingredients, and only takes a few minutes to make. Once your drink mix is ready, keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week before enjoying it in a variety of cocktail recipes!

Ingredients

Sweet and Sour Mix

3 c (710 mL) of water
3 cups (600 g) of white sugar
2 c (470 mL) of fresh lemon juice
2 c (470 mL) of fresh lime juice

Makes 8 servings

Whiskey Sour

1 fl oz (30 mL) of bourbon
1.75 fl oz (52 mL) of sweet and sour mix
Orange peel, for garnish
Cocktail cherry, for garnish

Makes 1 drink

Margarita

2 fl oz (59 mL) of tequila
0.5 fl oz (15 mL) of Cointreau
1 fl oz (30 mL) of sweet and sour mix

Makes 1 drink

Daiquiri

1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of white rum
1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of sweet and sour mix
Lime slice, for garnish

Makes 1 drink

Amaretto Sour

1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of amaretto liqueur
2 fl oz (59 mL) of orange juice
2 fl oz (59 mL) of sweet and sour mix

Makes 1 drink

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Simple Sweet and Sour Mix

1
Combine water and sugar into a big saucepan over medium heat. Pour 3 c (710 mL) of tap water into the saucepan, then add in 3 cups (600 g) of white granulated sugar. To get things going, set your stovetop to medium heat.^{[1]
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- Add the water and sugar at a 1:1 ratio.
- This recipe makes a large batch of homemade sweet and sour mix—enough for about 8 cocktails—so it's great for parties and other events.
2
Mix the sugar until it dissolves into the water. Grab a wooden spoon and start stirring the sugar into the water. It may take a few minutes before the sugar really starts dissolving into the water.^{[2]
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3
Raise the temperature and stir until the mixture is boiling. Turn your stovetop up to high so your syrup can really come together. Then, keep stirring the syrup in the saucepan until the mixture starts boiling.^{[3]
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- Boiling the mixture helps the syrup form.
4
Remove the mixture from the heat and pour it into a large pitcher. Set out a large pitcher for the sweet and sour mix, so it’ll be easy to pour into cocktail glasses. Let the mixture cool off a bit after you pour it into te pitcher.^{[4]
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- Any kind of pitcher will work for this, whether it’s glass or plastic.
- You can let the mixture cool on the stove before pouring it into the pitcher if you prefer.
5
Mix in lemon and lime juice into the pitcher to add a sour flavor. Add in 2 c (470 mL) of both lemon and lime juice into the pitcher. Stir the syrup and citrus juices together until the mix looks like lemonade.^{[5]
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- You can use store-bought bottles of lemon and lime juice or juice the fruit yourself. For reference, 1 lime has 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of juice.^{[6]
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  Research source} A single lemon can have anywhere from 3 to 5 US tbsp (44 to 74 mL) of juice, depending on how big it is.^{[7]
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6
Cover the pitcher and store the mix in the fridge for up to 1 week. Rip off a sheet of plastic wrap and tuck it around the top of the pitcher. Since your cocktail mix is essentially fruit juice and sugar, you can keep it fresh in the fridge for about 7 days.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Cocktail Ideas

1
Whip up a whiskey sour with bourbon and sweet and sour mix. Pour 2 fl oz (59 mL) of basic bourbon into a cocktail shaker, along with 1.75 mL (0.062 imp fl oz; 0.059 fl oz) of sweet and sour mix. Scoop a handful of ice into the cocktail shaker and shake the mixture around until it feels ice cold. Pour the drink into a cocktail glass with a few ice cubes and enjoy!^{[9]
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- Top this drink with a cocktail cherry and orange peel as an extra touch.
2
Make your own margarita with tequila and Cointreau. Wet the edge of a martini glass and coat it with a simple salt rim. Then, pour 2 fl oz (59 mL) of tequila, 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) of Cointreau, and 1 fl oz (30 mL) of sweet and sour mix into a cocktail shaker, along with 4 ice cubes. Give the mixture a good shake until it feels cold, then strain it into your salt-rimmed martini glass. Add a few ice cubes to drink for good measure, so it stays nice and cold.^{[10]
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3
Mix up a tasty daiquiri with white rum and sweet and sour mix. Add 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of white rum and 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of sweet and sour mix into a cocktail shaker, along with a handful ice. Shake the drink around until it’s cold, and then serve it in a cocktail glass.^{[11]
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- Lime slices are a classic garnish for a daiquiri.
4
Combine orange juice and amaretto liqueur for an amaretto sour. Grab a small cocktail glass and fill it with a couple of ice cubes. Add in 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of amaretto liqueur, along with 2 fl oz (59 mL) of orange juice. As a finishing touch, pour in 2 fl oz (59 mL) of sweet and sour mix. Give these ingredients a quick stir before enjoying your drink!^{[12]
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