- See also: Category:Drink mixers, Category:Mixed drinks, Category:Soft drinks, and Mixed drink
Drink mixers are the non-alcoholic ingredients in mixed drinks and cocktails. There are many reasons mixers are used. They change or enhance flavors or add new ones to a drink. Mixers dilute the drink, lowering the alcohol by volume in the drink. 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.
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Caffeinated beverages
Caffeine helps counteract some of the depressant effects of the alcohol.
- Coffee
- Energy drinks - Red Bull, etc.
- Iced tea, Sweetened - Lipton BRISK, Nestea, etc.
Carbonated mixers and sodas
Carbonation adds a festive flair to drinks, and it also increases the absorption of the alcohol into the blood stream, potentially resulting in faster intoxication.
- Carbonated water (also called soda water, seltzer water, or sparkling water)
- Cola - Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc.
- Ginger ale
- Lemon-lime soda - 7-UP, Sprite, etc.
- Tonic water
Dairy products
Milk products add a smoothing effect to the feel of the drink to counteract the burn of the alcohol. They also turn the drinks opaque, usually enhancing and lightening the color of the drink.
Juices
Juices are flavorful additions. Some add sweetness, others add a sour tang, and some add a sweet-tart sensation. Fruit juices are common additions to rum-based cocktails.
- Apple cider (not to be confused with cider, known as hard cider in the U.S.)
- Coconut milk
- Cranberry juice
- Grape juice
- Grapefruit juice
- Lemon juice
- Lemonade
- Lime juice, unsweetened
- Limeade
- Olive juice
- Orange juice
- Pineapple juice
- Tomato juice - plain or flavored (V-8, Clamato, etc.)
- Wheatgrass juice
Preprepared mixes
Some suppliers now manufacture pre-made mixes, which contain all the ingredients for a particular drink pre-mixed. The only thing that needs to be added is alcohol.
- Margarita mix - José Cuervo Margarita mix, etc.
- Mudslide mix - T.G.I. Friday's Frozen Mudslide mix, etc.
- Strawberry Daiquiri mix - Urban Thirst's Strawberry Daiquiri Slush Mix
Sauces
The addition of a sauce usually imparts a surprising new taste to a familiar drink. Hot sauces are commonly used in drinking games.
Syrups
The key ingredient in a syrup is sugar, which sweetens any drink into which it is mixed. Other flavors are often added to a sugar syrup.
- Grenadine
- Lime juice, sweetened - Rose's lime juice
- Simple syrup
- Sour mix
Other mixers
Many other food and beverage items can be used in mixed drinks. These are some other common ones.
- Egg - egg whites thicken and increase the foaminess of blended drinks.
- Food coloring
- Sports drink - Gatorade, SunnyD, etc.
While most consider Bitters as a type of mixer, it is alcoholic, and depend on the type of bitters may even be a main contributor to the alcohol content.
See also
- List of cocktails
- Mixed drink shooters and drink shots
- Category:Drink mixers
- Category:Mixed drinks
- Category:Soft drinks
