Unlock a new world of possibilities for your fruity cocktails!
Ready to make the most out of your fruits? If you’re in the loop about advanced mixology techniques, acid-adjustment should ring familiar. If this is new to you, though, with this technique, we’re taking fruit juices and adding powdered acids to make them similarly tangy and tart to lemons and limes!
Why not just use both the juice of choice along with a strong citrus? You certainly can and while it would still be tasty, it’s often tricky to balance since you’re adding extra liquid that can make certain flavours less assertive than ideal. Additionally, sometimes you want a sip that has a punch of acidity, but you don’t necessarily want the flavour of citrus involved.
Queue acid-adjusted juices! To get started, here are a couple powdered acids you’ll want to pick up, both of which you can find online or even some specialty grocery stores:
- Citric (for a clean and vibrant profile) – if you can only get one, this is the most versatile!
- Malic (for sharp intensity)
Approach 1: Add to taste
With this method, simply add your powder(s) to taste bit by bit to your juice until it’s as sour as a lemon or lime. It’s not super precise, but you won’t need any specialized tools nor calculations!
Approach 2: Calculate the acidity percentages
If you’d prefer something more exact, follow the steps below!
- Note the acidity levels of lemons and limes so you have your target figures, which are usually as follows:
- Lemons: 5% Citric Acid
- Limes: 4% Citric Acid and 2% Malic Acid
- Record the typical acid content of your selected fruit, which for the most part you should be able to find online.
- Subtract this percentage from that of your target citrus – this will be the number you multiply by the amount of juice (in ml or grams) you’re modifying that dictates how much powdered acid (in grams) to use.
- Measure out your acid(s), add to your juice, and mix until dissolved. Keep in mind that all fruits are different from each other, so your set numbers are ultimately a starting point that you can modify as needed (notably if your selected juice tastes more or less acidic than normal).
If this sounds daunting, have no fear! We’ll walk you through three delicious examples you can try out at home and apply to any other fruit that your heart desires.
JUMP to the fruits ahead!
- Orange
- Mango
- Cantaloupe
1. Orange Juice
Depending on who you ask, orange juice is sometimes unpopular in cocktails since compared to lemons and limes, their acid content is fairy low and sugar content high, which can contribute to drinks that feel flat in flavour. Adding citric acid to the orange juice will preserve that zesty flavour while adding extra tart dimension! As far as using syrup goes, we’d recommend using a touch less than you normally would since the orange juice will still have a bit of sweetness, but you can go according to your palate!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
- ¾ oz Lemon-Adjusted Orange Juice*
- ½ oz Vanilla Syrup
- Soda Water, to top
- Orange Slice, for garnish
Method
Shake the orange juice and vanilla syrup on ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass with fresh ice and add soda water, leaving room for gin. Layer the Empress Indigo Gin on top. Garnish with an orange slice. We recommend stirring before you sip!
*To make the acid-adjusted orange juice, measure 100ml of fresh orange juice and add 4.2g citric acid (since oranges tend to have 0.8% citric). Stir until dissolved, add to a sealed container, and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Jump to the top here!
2. Mango Juice
Let’s manifest the summer vibes with a tropical option! Mangoes always make for crowdpleasing sips and while they certainly complement citrus, adding more neutral acids to this juice directly will let its own flavour shine more. To get a similar zip that many sunny sips have, we’ll be including malic acid here to for a sharper element of acidity akin to limes, especially to balance with the mangoes’ natural sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin
- ¾ oz Lime-Adjusted Mango Juice**
- ½ oz Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Coconut Milk
- Lime Wheel & Mango Slice, for garnish
Method
Shake ingredients vigorously on ice until combined, and strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lime wheel and mango slice.
*Tip: whip coconut milk prior to shaking for a creamier texture!
**To make the acid-adjusted mango juice, measure 100ml of mango juice and add 3.6g citric acid and 2g malic (since mangoes tend to have 0.4% citric). Stir until dissolved, add to a sealed container, and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Jump to the top here!
3. Cantaloupe Juice
Let’s wrap it up with a pick that’s more like acidifying a juice rather than merely adjusting its content. Most melons in general are more alkaline compared to many other fruits, which can result in cocktails feeling watered down due to an excess amount of mildly-flavoured liquid. Acidifying these types of juices directly will really allow their flavour to pop!
Ingredients
- 2 oz Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin
- ¾ oz Lemon-Adjusted Cantaloupe Juice*
- ¾ oz Simple Syrup
- 4-5 Mint Leaves, plus more for garnish
- 3 Cantaloupe Pieces, for garnish
Method
Add liquid ingredients and mint to a shaker tin and optionally lightly press to express oils. Add ice and shake to chill. Strain into rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish and enjoy!
*To make the acid-adjusted cantaloupe juice, measure 100ml of cantaloupe juice and add 5g citric acid (since most melon varietals don’t have much acid to begin with). Stir until dissolved, add to a sealed container, and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Jump to the top here!
When you think about it, this technique is really just seasoning juices to give them extra bursts of flavour and complexity! We’re always seeing the most fascinating innovations in the world of mixology where bartenders continue to push the envelope in their sippable creations with methods like acid-adjustment. Now that you’re armed with the knowledge from above, you can bring this creativity right to your home for your next cocktail project!
For more cocktail inspiration, you know where to look – be sure to head on over to ourInstagram,Cocktail Page,orBlog!
Sip responsibly!
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