Sweet And Sour Margarita Mix Recipe

This sweet and sour margarita mix will take your drinks from drab to fab with just the right amount of sugar, and 2 kinds of citrus. People will tell you that the secret to a good margarita is good tequila, avoiding iodized salt, and serving it in the right glassware. However, we would argue that a classic margarita recipe is best with this not-so secret ingredient: homemade sweet and sour margarita mix.

Sour mix is a key ingredient in many different cocktails. In fact, chances are that, if you went anywhere before 2010, you have probably ingested a fair share of sour mix in the form of neon green margaritas. Luckily for you, the rise of craft cocktails meant that most people returned to the basics: juicing their own citrus, and mixing it with sugar. Food Blogger Ksenia Prints of At the Immigrant's Table breaks down the exact flavor combination that makes it possible for home bartenders to have margaritas just like Doña Bertha, the alleged inventor of the cocktail, intended.

We are certain that, once you try this concoction, it's going to become your favorite cocktail staple.

To make a batch of homemade margarita mix, you are going to need water, sugar, fresh lemon juice from about 2 lemons, plus fresh lime juice from about 8 limes.

To start the sour mix, first make the simple syrup.

In a small saucepan, combine equal quantities of water and sugar. Bring to a boil, and continue cooking, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the simple syrup cool fully before using. Once it's cooled completely, transfer the cooled sugar syrup into a quart or pint jar.

While the simple syrup cools, juice the lemons and limes, taking care to avoid getting any seeds in the mix. You can juice these by hand, though we recommend using an electric citrus juicer due to the sheer volume of limes required.

Once cooled, add the fresh lemon and lime juice to the jar with the simple syrup. Shake the jar well to combine the ingredients — you shouldn't see any separation in color. Transfer to the fridge to cool completely.

Once it's been cooled, your margarita mix is ready to use in your favorite cocktail recipe. Use this sweet and sour mix in a classic margarita, a next-level margarita with orange juice, or a spicy margarita. You can also mix it with sparkling water, orange bitters, and a non-alcoholic spirit for an alcohol-free mocktail.