Drink mixers are the non-alcoholic ingredients in mixed drinks and

cocktail A cocktail is a mixed drink, usually alcoholic beverage, alcoholic. Most commonly, a cocktail is a combination of one or more liquor, spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as juices, flavored syrups, tonic water, Shrub (drink), shrubs, and ...

s. Mixers dilute the drink, lowering the alcohol by volume in the drink. They change, enhance, or add new flavors to a 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. They also simply increase the volume of a drink, to make it last longer.

Caffeinated beverages

Caffeine, a

stimulant Stimulants (also known as central nervous system stimulants, or psychostimulants, or colloquially as uppers) are a class of drugs that increase alertness. They are used for various purposes, such as enhancing attention, motivation, cognition, ...

, masks some of the depressant effects of

alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...

. * Coffee * Energy drinks – Red Bull, etc. * Iced tea, sweetened – Lipton BRISK, Nestea, etc.

Carbonated mixers and sodas

Carbonation adds a festive flair to drinks. It also increases the absorption of the alcohol into the blood stream due to increased pressure in the stomach, potentially resulting in faster intoxication. Retrieved 5 December 2019. * Bitter lemonflavored with

quinine Quinine is a medication used to treat malaria and babesiosis. This includes the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum'' that is resistant to chloroquine when artesunate is not available. While sometimes used for nocturnal leg ...

and lemon (both juice and pith) *

Carbonated water Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide gas, either artificially injected under pressure, or occurring due to natural geological processes. Carbonation causes small bubbles to form, giving the water an effervescent quali ...

(also called club soda, soda water, seltzer water, or sparkling water) *

Cola Cola is a Carbonation, carbonated soft drink flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, citrus essential oil, oils, and other flavorings. Cola became popular worldwide after the American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, a trademarked br ...

–

Coca-Cola Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...

, Pepsi, etc. * Ginger ale * Ginger beer * Hoppy * Lemon Sour * Squirt (soft drink) * Lemon–lime soda 7 Up, Sprite, etc. * Root beer, orange, grape, and cherry soda, and various other fruit and herb–flavored

soft drink A soft drink (see #Terminology, § Terminology for other names) is a class of non-alcoholic drink, usually (but not necessarily) Carbonated water, carbonated, and typically including added Sweetness, sweetener. Flavors used to be Natural flav ...

s are used, but typically they have not been as popular as the drinks listed above. * Tonic water - The essential ingredient is quinine.

Sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...

and other flavorings are also commonly added.

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. * Cream *

Eggnog Eggnog (), historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, added sugar, sweetened, dairy-based sweetened beverage, beverage traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolk ...

* Half and half * Ice cream *

Milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...

Juices

Juices are flavorful additions. Some add sweetness, others add a sour tang, and add a sweet-tart sensation. Fruit juices are common additions to rum-based cocktails. * Apple cider (not to be confused with ''

cider Cider ( ) is an alcoholic beverage made from the Fermented drink, fermented Apple juice, juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom (particularly in the West Country) and Ireland. The United Kingdom has the world's highest ...

'', known as ''hard cider'' in the U.S.) * Coconut milk or coconut water * Cranberry juice * Grape juice * Grapefruit juice * Lemon juice * Lemonade * Lime juice, unsweetened * Limeade *

Olive The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'' ("European olive"), is a species of Subtropics, subtropical evergreen tree in the Family (biology), family Oleaceae. Originating in Anatolia, Asia Minor, it is abundant throughout the Mediterranean ...

juice * Orange juice *

Pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a Tropical vegetation, tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been culti ...

juice * Tomato juice – plain or flavored ( V–8, Clamato, etc.) * Wheatgrass juice

Prepared 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. Some ingredients may be homogenized to form an emulsion with the aid of an emulsifier containing refined vegetable oil. The process prevents the separation of alcohol and cream during storage for example. * Bloody Mary mix * Cosmopolitan mix * Hot Toddy mix * Margarita mix * Mojito mix * Mudslide mix * Strawberry Daiquiri mix * Hot buttered rum 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. *

Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

Hot sauce Hot sauce is a type of condiment, seasoning, or salsa (sauce), salsa made from chili peppers and other ingredients. Many commercial varieties of Mass production, mass-produced hot sauce exist. History Humans have used chili peppers and other ho ...

– Tabasco sauce, etc. * Worcestershire sauce

Syrups

The key ingredient in a syrup is

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecul ...

, which sweetens any drink into which it is mixed. Other flavors are often added to a sugar syrup. * Demerara syrup – A combination of Demerara sugar, a natural brown sugar, and water. * Falernum – Of Caribbean origin, flavored with almonds, ginger and/or cloves, and lime. * Fassionola - A passion fruit, orange and guava juice syrup; variations include hibiscus and strawberry flavors * Grenadine – Originally made from pomegranate juice, modern varieties vary in composition. * Lime juice, sweetened – Rose's lime juice, etc. * Orgeat – Flavored with almonds and either rose water or orange flower water. * Simple syrup – A combination of granulated sugar and water. * Sour mix – Also known as sweet and sour mix, a combination of simple syrup and lemon or lime juice. * Squash – A concentrated fruit- or herbal-flavored syrup.

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, Redbull, etc.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Drink mixer Alcohol-related lists Drink mixers Soft drinks