Post #239908 by KuKuAhu on Tue, Jun 27, 2006 9:05 AM

I'm sorry but all sour mix is garbage and belongs in the trash. Make your own sour mix: fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.

100% agreed.

But I am not in agreement with the recipes for sour mix posted here. Sour mix is essentially lemon juice and sugar. There is no need to use sugar syrup. And you cook it, which changes the flavor of the stuff away from what sugar syrup and lemon juice would bring to a cocktail.

My recommended version:

1 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice
2 pounds of good granulated sugar (I like Maui brand Plantation White Hawaiian sugar, but any quality white sugar will do)

Heat together in a pot on the stove stirring constantly on high until it boils. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and stop stirring. Cook for a few minutes longer and it will clarify to a nice yellow gold syrup.

Add one half cup of white rum as a preservative (mold retardant), and one 1/4 cup of corn syrup as a crystal retardant if you like. These are not essential ingredients, just nice to add if you are gonna be storing it.

Keep it in the fridge. Use within 3 months or so if you add the rum. If you don't add the rum it is good until it molds.

Once you make this stuff you will never go back. And I do agree with Melintur obviously, I think lemon/lime is best... but you can use two cups of lemon alone if you like. It is also tasty.

For a nice treat, cut the lemon peels into strips (yes, the whole peel) and leave some of the syrup in the pot. Turn the heat back on and cook the strips in the hot syrup for about 5 minutes or so. Then jar them and place in the fridge. Leave it for 24 hours. Candied lemon peel garnish anyone?

Ahu

Fraternal Order of Moai

[ Edited by: KuKuAhu 2006-06-27 09:07 ]