This article is about the ingredient. For the device, see
milkshake machine.
Drink mixers are 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. 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.
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.[2]
Root beer,
orange,
grape, and cherry soda, and various other fruit and herb–flavored
soft drinks are used, but typically they have not been as popular as the drinks listed above.
Tonic water - The essential ingredient is quinine.
Sugar 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.
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.
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.
^Roberts, C (16 May 2007). "Alcohol concentration and carbonation of drinks: the effect on blood alcohol levels". Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 14 (7). University of Manchester: 398–405.
doi:
10.1016/j.jflm.2006.12.010.
PMID17720590. Retrieved 5 December 2019.