A problem that casual drinkers have is having to collect dozens of different drink components to enjoy their favorite mixed drink. Face it, nobody really wants to collect a dozen different syrups, juices, and other components that will never get fully consumed. This has been a long-standing issue for the casual drinker, buying a big bottle of something, and having it go bad after only taking a few ounces to mix a couple of drinks. Since most mixers are non-alcoholic, their shelf life goes down really fast once the bottle is opened. The answer? All in one drink mixers.
Mixer Trivia
- The letters V.S.O.P. that is often used for brandy stands for Very Special Old Pale, and not Very Special Old People, as some might say.
- There are four types of orange liqueur used for mixed drinks, Grand Mariner, Cointreau, Triple Sec, and Curacao.
- The most popular pre-made drink mixer is the Bloody Mary Mix. Just add Vodka, and you’re good to go.
Mixer Buying Guide
Pre-made drink mixers started gaining popularity in the 90s, but they slowly died down due to their being filled with sugar and, to be quite honest, didn’t taste very good. Now with the resurgence of the craft food and drink movement, pre-made drink mixers are slowly gaining popularity again. The old brands have slowly come back as well, so to avoid falling into the trap of going for those super sweet and frankly not-so-wholesome mixers, we’re going to give you a few tips and tricks to hopefully help you choose the best one for your taste.
- Avoid mixers that use high fructose corn syrup. You don’t want them in your food, and you really don’t want them in your dinks.
- Look for non-GMO labels on the product. This helps ensure that the product you’re getting is as wholesome as possible.
- Avoid any preservatives. These are really small bottles which are meant to be used up in just a few sittings.
- Look for unique ingredients. By unique, we mean ingredients like tea, maple, siracha, and others. This is an indicator that the mixer was well thought out and has gone through a lot of testing before being rolled out.
- Avoid mixers that contain artificial flavors. Check the label for any artificial ingredients and flavorings.
You can always try and make your own unique mixed drinks, but with the quality of craft drink mixers out there, why bother with getting individual ingredients?
Mixer Production & Farming in Texas
Craft drink mixer producers in Texas have joined in on the craft pre-mixed drink trail and are offering pre-mixed drink mixers with a Texas twist. It is not uncommon to see mixers that feature Texas flavors like Ginger-lime, Grapefruit, Grapefruit-lime, prickly pear, jalapeno, green chile, and other flavors that are commonly associated with Texas.
Types of Craft Pre-Mixed Drink Mixers Available:
- Bloody Mary Mix – The most popular pre-mixed drink mixer available. No more looking for tomato juice and other components. Just add your vodka and your drink is ready.
- Cosmopolitan Mix – No more measuring out triple sec, lemon juice, and cranberry juice! Just add vodka and you’re good to go.
- Margarita Mix – Available in a lot of different flavors. Just add your desired tequila level and ice.
- Mojito Mix – The sugar, soda, lime juice and mint (as well as other flavors you want) are all pre-mixed, all you need to do is add the white rum.
These are just some of the available pre-mixed drink mixers out there. With craft mixers becoming more and more popular, the choices are growing every single day.
Packaging:
Depending on the size, craft pre-mixed drink mixers usually come in glass bottles for the smaller sizes and in P.E.T. bottles for larger sizes.
Enjoying Mixers
Craft pre-mixed drink mixers are ready to drink, just add alcohol and ice. Check the label for mixing instructions.
Storage:
For unopened mixers, they can be stored in the pantry up to their best before date. Once opened, it is advisable to store them in the fridge unless stated otherwise.
