How to Pick Mixers That Don’t Push Your Spirit Budget
A well-crafted cocktail involves not just the appropriate distilled spirit, but also the right mixers that help dilute the spirit or even add and alter flavours according to your taste. Whether you are an aspiring bartender or cocktail enthusiast, having a stock of essential mixers in your selection will help you strengthen your credentials as a mixologist. To choose the most suitable mixers for your cocktails, consider the flavour profile of your base spirit, experiment with multiple combinations, and balance the taste of sweet, bitter and sour accordingly. Quality mixers (while having purchased them on a budget) are key to enhancing the overall taste and complexity of your drink.
From budget-friendly juices, fruit and citrus, to garnishes and soda water, there is a range of mixers you can use to pair your cocktails with. And what’s more? This list of mixers will comfortably cost you less than your spirits so you can make your desired cocktail on a budget at home.
Mixing for Beginners
If you’re an amateur mixologist, try following the 2:1:1 ratio for making your cocktails — two parts liquor, one part sweet and one part sour. For more on why this ratio is your best friend as a beginner, click here
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Once you’re accustomed to these proportions and have made a few cocktails by yourself, you can begin experimenting with not only various liquors based on flavour profiles you prefer, but also a variety of mixers that will tip your drink either the sweet or sour way. You can choose your mixers from liqueurs, bitters, fruit juices, soda, and garnishes. However, you don't need to include everything, and can simply begin with some basic mixers. If you’re looking for affordable mixers for your first few cocktails, trying soda, bitters and fruit juices might be most appropriate.
Many mixers are also considered versatile, going with almost any base spirit. For example, vodka is considered the one spirit that absorbs almost any mixer you put in it. Generally, if you’re looking for a sweet and sour element, citrus-flavoured sodas and juices must be your go-to option. Ensure to notice the consistency and carbonation level of a mixer too based on how you want the overall taste of your cocktail to stand out. The following versatile and smart mixer pairings will help add not only the desired flavours to your cocktail but also reframe its appearance, contributing to a well-crafted drink.
Budget-Friendly Mixers that Go Hand-in-Hand
While selecting mixers that are lighter on the pocket and versatile in nature, ensure you’re also keeping quality in mind. For your first few cocktails, getting mixers that do not have too much sweetener content in them and are more natural is ideal. You do not want your mixers to negatively impact the taste of your cocktail; instead, you want them to add vibrancy and flavour besides the more neutral base liquors (like vodka, for example).
A Classic Soda or Tonic Water
Going back to the classics, they are some of the most multifaceted ingredients in cocktails and are used in the likes vodka tonic, gin and tonic, or even aperol spritz. A range of fruits, herbs and bitters can be infused along with the base spirit and tonic water to create a cocktail with a vibrant and sour flavour profile.
Fruit Juices
Juices directly squeezed or bottled like lemon or orange citrus juices lend much-needed acidity to cocktails. Citrussy flavours help balance the extreme flavours in the liquors, making the cocktail lighter to drink as a whole. For example, making pina colada only requires mixing rum with pineapple juice, thus not requiring ingredients and mixers that fall in a high range. Other fruit juices you can add to your cocktails that will help achieve a tangy flavour profile include cranberry and grapefruit juices. This range of affordable fruit juices will make your cocktail beginner-friendly, and also appealing to a wider audience.
Cola, Coffee and Other Well-Loved Drinks
While juices and water are a standard mixer combination, other universally loved drinks and bitters like coffee, cola and even spices can do wonders to elevate the flavours in your next cocktail. Cola guarantees a smoky aroma and flavour to your mixed drink, while coffee is for those who want a balance of bitterness and sweetness. For something lighter and less sweet, amateur mixologists also prefer adding coconut water, sprucing up their cocktail game.
If you’re feeling particularly thrilled about experimenting further with your cocktails or have made quite a few cocktails already, infusing your drinks with Indian-inspired spices and herbs might be the next step for you. From aromatic cardamom to calculated measures of chilli powder, you can create cocktails that could set you apart from the rest. Now, with innovative mixers like tea leaves in addition to classic, affordable mixers like fruit juices, making the perfect cocktail, well under your budget, should help level up your skills as a novice mixologist.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
