What is a Good Drink Mixer?

We are all at some point guilty of this, yes you too. We all want to try another flavor on our favorite alcoholic drink but there has to a be consistency or you would have a disaster waiting to happen. The point is what is that right drink mixer that would be in sync with your favorite alcoholic drink.

Before we dive in, what are Drink mixers in the first place? these are most times the non-alcoholic ingredients in mixed drinks and cocktails. Mixers dilute the drink, lowering the alcohol by volume in the drink. They change, enhance, or add new flavors to a drink. Some people prefer to use a mix of alcoholic selections for their mixers They may make the drink sweeter, more sour, or more savory. Some mixers change the texture or consistency of the drink, making it thicker or more watery. Drink mixers may also be used strictly for decorative purposes by changing the color or appearance of the drink. They also simply increase the volume of a drink, to make it last longer.

What you’re looking for is balance: You’re looking for a balanced relationship between mouth feel (carbonation, texture and how much space it takes up in your mouth), bitterness and other flavors, which might be fruity, toasty, nutty or malty. These flavors may not necessarily come from added fruit or nuts during the brewing process, though that’s possible; they’re usually a natural outgrowth of fermentation.

What mixes with alcohol mixers?
Most mixers and alcohol go together but some are made for each other.

Tonic gives a hint of bitterness to either gin or vodka.
Cola is a classic mixer, it goes very well with whiskey and rum.
bourbon and blended whiskey go well with ginger beer and ginger ale . use ginger ale for sweetness, use ginger beer for spice.
Lemon-lime soda, though a little sweet is good for whiskey drinks and fruity punches.
Grapefruit soda mixes perfectly with tequila and a pinch of salt.
Orange juice blends well with gin, vodka and rum
Lime juice is the prime ingredient in sour mix; bottled, sweetened lime juice is perfect with gin.
Cranberry juice blends well with vodka and orange liqueur, it gives the cosmopolitan its signature red color.

Do mixers dilute alcohol?
This depends on the type of mixer, yes non alcoholic mixers will reduce the alcohol percentage of a drink making it lighter but with alcoholic mixers , it depends on the alcoholic percentage of the mixer.